In a impassioned address that has ignited national discourse, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lambasted the current Nigerian government’s handling of the country’s spiraling insecurity, declaring that Nigerians are “tired of being killed” and have every right to seek assistance from the international community if the state fails in its primary duty to protect its citizens. Speaking at the 2025 Plateau Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival at the Ten Commandments Prayer Altar in Dwei-Du, Jos South Local Government Area, Obasanjo called for an immediate halt to negotiations with bandits and terrorists, emphasizing that modern technology now makes it inexcusable for criminals to evade justice.
The event, organized by the Plateau State Government and attended by a constellation of dignitaries including retired General Lawrence Onoja, former Governors Joshua Dariye and Jonah Jang, former Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen, former Adamawa Governor Boni Haruna, retired Chief of Defence Staff General Martin Luther Agwai, and Major General Folorunsho Oyinlola (GOC 3 Division), served as a poignant platform for unity, healing, and reconciliation amid ongoing violence in the region. Thousands of worshippers, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and security officials gathered under the theme of Christmas praise, offering fervent prayers for peace in Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
Obasanjo, who led Nigeria as President from 1999 to 2007, pulled no punches in his critique, recalling the infamous 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction as a grim benchmark from which insecurity has only worsened. “Since the kidnapping of the Chibok girls, it has continued to go from bad to worse,” he stated. “The first responsibility of any government is the protection and security of its citizens, but our government seems to be incapable of protecting us. We are being killed – Nigerians, no matter what religion you belong to, no matter where you come from, no matter your profession. We are tired of being killed.”
Highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence, Obasanjo rejected attempts to frame the crisis through ethnic or religious lenses, insisting that “every Nigerian life matters, whether Christian, Muslim, or pagan.” He decried the daily loss of lives to bandits, terrorists, and abductions, urging the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy advanced tools like drones – capabilities that were nascent during his own tenure – to track and neutralize threats without apology or hesitation. “In these days of technology, there should be nobody who can hide after committing a crime,” he asserted. “Before I left government, we had the capacity to pick up anybody in Nigeria once identified… Now, with drones, it’s even easier.”
In a bold escalation, the elder statesman explicitly called for an end to what he described as counterproductive “negotiations and apologies” with terrorists. “We should appeal to our government to do what needs to be done to stop Nigerians being killed,” Obasanjo implored. “Stop negotiating with them. Take decisive action.” He further empowered citizens by affirming Nigeria’s place in the global community: “If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do for us. We owe no one an apology for that.”
Obasanjo’s remarks come against a backdrop of heightened insecurity, with recent reports documenting over 500 deaths in Plateau State alone this year from farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and terror attacks. Nationwide, the crisis has displaced millions, crippled economies in the North, and eroded public trust in security institutions. His words echo a growing chorus of frustration from civil society, religious bodies, and opposition figures, who argue that the government’s strategies – including controversial peace deals and ransom payments – have emboldened perpetrators rather than deterring them.
Reflecting on his administration’s relative success in curbing militancy through a mix of military resolve and economic incentives, Obasanjo shared a personal anecdote from a recent conversation with Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, known for his engagements with bandits. “After visiting their hideouts, Sheikh Gumi told me the same thing: we must stop this nonsense,” Obasanjo revealed, underscoring a rare bipartisan consensus on the need for unyielding enforcement.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, who invited Obasanjo as a special guest, hailed the former president’s intervention as a “clarion call for action.” In his opening remarks, Mutfwang emphasized the festival’s role in fostering interfaith harmony, stating, “In the face of adversity, we choose praise and unity. Baba Obasanjo’s wisdom reminds us that security is a collective imperative.”
Reactions from across the political spectrum have been swift and varied. Civil rights activist and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi echoed Obasanjo’s sentiments on social media, posting: “The former President’s words are a wake-up call. Insecurity is not inevitable; it’s a failure of will. We must act now – decisively, without negotiation or excuse.” 10 Prominent lawyer Femi Fani-Kayode, however, offered a more nuanced take, agreeing on the government’s lapses but cautioning against selective empathy: “Obasanjo is right that we practice selective outrage based on region or faith, but let’s not forget external hands stoking the flames.” 11
The Obasanjo Centre for African Studies, in a statement, reaffirmed the elder statesman’s commitment to pan-African solutions: “Baba’s lifetime of service compels him to speak truth to power. Nigeria’s insecurity is Africa’s shared burden, but the solution starts at home – with resolve, technology, and unity.”
As Nigeria grapples with this existential threat, Obasanjo’s address stands as a pivotal moment, blending moral authority with pragmatic counsel. The nation watches, and the world listens, for the decisive steps that will restore safety to its people.
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