The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State, describing the move as a reactive response to Nigeria’s growing insecurity challenges.
Obi made his position known in a statement posted on his X account on Friday, titled “What Our Pervasive Insecurity Requires: A Holistic, Not Reactive Approach.”
His comments came in response to the President’s approval following the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident that has heightened concerns over security in the state.
According to Obi, while increasing security personnel is necessary, such decisions should be implemented through a coordinated national strategy rather than as an immediate reaction to isolated incidents.
“In a hasty effort to be perceived as attentive and courageous, it is reported that President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of about 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State,” Obi stated.
He argued that the decision reflects what he described as a pattern of reactive governance, adding that major policy decisions should be carefully planned and strategically executed.
Obi further noted that insecurity is not limited to Oyo State, pointing out that several states across the country, including Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Katsina, Anambra, Niger, Imo and Sokoto, are also facing serious security threats.
He questioned whether similar approvals would be granted to every state experiencing insecurity.
“The question is whether all the states will receive the same approval to recruit 1,000 forest guards each, amounting to 37,000 forest guards across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, or whether such approvals depend on the discretion of the President,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor also raised concerns about the future of regional security outfits, particularly the South-West Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun.
“With the approval for Oyo State, what becomes of the Amotekun Corps, which has been working to improve security in the South-West? Will it be phased out in Oyo?” he asked.
Obi maintained that Nigeria’s security crisis is rooted in broader leadership and governance challenges, arguing that sustainable solutions require addressing underlying economic and social issues.
He said insecurity has continued to worsen due to failures in leadership, national unity, industrial development and job creation, stressing that many young Nigerians remain unemployed despite the country’s vast resources.
According to him, addressing insecurity requires a comprehensive ecosystem approach that combines effective leadership, economic growth, resource development and employment opportunities.
“Addressing our insecurity situation requires a holistic approach. Failure in leadership leads to failure in uniting the country, failure in industrialisation, and failure to effectively harness our resources in agriculture, mining, tourism, sports, water resources, and the oil and gas sector to create jobs and economic opportunities for our growing youth population,” Obi stated.
He called on the Federal Government to adopt long-term strategies capable of tackling the root causes of insecurity rather than relying on measures introduced in response to individual incidents.
Obi Faults Tinubu’s Approval of 1,000 Forest Guards for Oyo, Calls for Holistic Security Strategy
