Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the prolonged stay in captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states.

In a post on his verified X handle on Monday, Obi said he is worried that President Bola Tinubu has shown incapacity and lack of compassion of the incidents.

According to him, worsening leadership crisis in the country is now evident, stressing that ultimate cost of uncompassionate leadership, as evident in the country today, is turning citizens’ frustration into deep, volatile resentment.

It is even more traumatising when the leader presiding over that collapse demonstrates clear incapacity and a lack of compassion.

“The government and people of Oyo State, more than 50 days after the abduction of the schoolchildren without any tangible effort toward their rescue, should rightly feel bitter and abandoned.

Since this unfortunate incident, I have spoken publicly about it twice, including appealing directly to the kidnappers to release the children. I also called the Governor twice to assure him of my solidarity, understanding that this issue is not just an Oyo problem but a Nigerian tragedy.

“On Friday, July 3, I decided to travel to Ibadan with Prof. Pat Utomi to express solidarity with the Governor, as more than 50 days had elapsed without the rescue of the children and with numerous others still being held captive across the country.
During our two-hour meeting, I shared my experience in addressing insecurity as Governor of Anambra State. I recalled how President Olusegun Obasanjo, and later Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, would personally call us several times whenever we faced major security challenges.

But, to my utmost shock, I discovered that, contrary to my assumption that they had been in regular communication over the matter, Governor Seyi Makinde had not received a single call from President Bola Tinubu.

“I remember the only case of a school kidnapping during President Goodluck Jonathan’s era – the Chibok girls.

“It drew local and international attention. Even though the security agencies provided almost daily updates on their efforts, Nigerians and the rest of the world were outraged that it took President Jonathan over two weeks to call the then  State chief Executive,” he wrote.