The Presidency has responded sharply to recent criticisms by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, questioning his record as governor of Anambra State.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, challenged Obi’s credibility on security matters, arguing that his administration in Anambra was far from secure.
In a statement posted on social media on Saturday, Onanuga referenced comments previously made by Obi’s successor, Willie Obiano, who had alleged that the state’s security structure was weak when he assumed office.
“Ask Peter Obi today whether Anambra was secure under his watch, he and his supporters would attempt a brazen revisionism. But the internet never forgets. And Obiano, Obi’s successor, is still alive,” Onanuga stated.
He further cited a video in which Obiano claimed that more than 69 kidnapping cases were recorded during Obi’s tenure and that many Anambra indigenes avoided returning home due to security concerns.
The Presidency’s response comes after Obi criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the worsening security situation across the country.
Obi pointed to recent abductions involving schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo and Borno states, warning that mass kidnappings were becoming increasingly frequent. According to him, the current administration has witnessed more than ten major school abductions within three years, compared to roughly the same number recorded during the eight-year administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also criticized the Federal Government’s approval for the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State, describing the move as a reactive measure lacking a comprehensive national security framework.
Obi questioned whether similar security interventions would be extended to other states facing insecurity and expressed concerns about how the new initiative would integrate with existing regional security outfits such as the Amotekun Corps.
The exchange highlights the growing political debate over security management as concerns continue to mount over kidnappings, banditry, and insurgent attacks in several parts of the country.
