The All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State Chapter, has come down heavily hard on Labour Party’s Peter Obi, accusing him of using Nigeria’s security crisis and America’s “country of concern” tag for political drama instead of patriotism.
In a statement on Tuesday, APC spokesperson Hon. Seye Oladejo said Obi’s reaction to the U.S. move was not born out of love for Nigeria but out of public pressure and fear of exposure.
“For a man always seeking microphones and hashtags, his sudden silence was deafening – until well-meaning Nigerians began to publicly question it. It has become clear that Obi did not speak out of patriotic instinct, but out of public pressure and fear of further exposing his double standards,” the party said.
The ruling party said Obi’s response came “too little, too late, and too predictable,” adding that true leaders don’t wait to be reminded to defend their country.
“A man who claims to desire national leadership should not require public reminders to speak when his nation’s image is at stake. Leadership is proactive, not reactive and certainly not driven by online agitation,” the APC added.
Taking a direct swipe, the Lagos APC branded Obi as “a leader who is only happy when Nigeria is sad.”
“Real leaders defend their country in difficult moments. Statesmen balance criticism with dignity and national pride,” the party declared.
According to the APC, the former Anambra governor views every national setback as “an opportunity for political resurrection,” describing his attitude as “sour politics born from electoral heartbreak.”
The Lagos APC praised President Bola Tinubu for confronting Nigeria’s security challenges “with courage and strategy,” citing improved military coordination, deployment of new technology, and stronger global cooperation.
It said insecurity “did not start yesterday” but claimed Tinubu is “tackling both the guns and the hunger feeding them.”
Meanwhile, it accused Obi and his supporters of “rehearsing 2023 grievances and clinging to foreign commentary for political oxygen.”
“His recent behaviour confirms why Nigerians rejected him – leadership demands maturity, not melodrama and delayed outrage,” it said.
It urged citizens to stay focused on Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, insisting that Nigeria will rise “with or without the naysayers.”
Earlier, Obi said the U.S. designation should worry every Nigerian, warning that the country is sliding into chaos.
He cited Amnesty International’s report claiming thousands of lives have been lost since May 2023 and accused the APC-led government of lacking the “competence, commitment, and patriotism” to restore peace.
Obi urged Nigeria and the U.S. to strengthen their historic partnership through “diplomatic engagement and collaboration” to tackle insecurity.
