Date: 28 November 2025
Former President Obasanjo has launched a blistering critique of the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring that the government has failed in its most fundamental duty protecting citizens and urging that the international community should intervene if Nigeria cannot safeguard its people.
Speaking on Friday in Jos, Plateau State, during the Plateau Unity Christmas Carols and Praise Festival, Obasanjo decried the worsening wave of killings, kidnappings, and general insecurity sweeping across Nigeria. He said the violence cannot be dismissed as a regional or ethnic problem, arguing that “every life lost is a national tragedy.
Obasanjo recounted that during his own time in office, Nigeria’s security agencies could locate criminals once identified though he admitted they lacked advanced technology to eliminate them remotely. He pointed out that the country now has access to modern tools such as drones yet appears to prefer “negotiations and apologies” over decisive action against terror groups. “Why are we not using our capacity?” he asked.
He insisted Nigerians have the right to appeal to global partners for help if their own government fails to ensure safety. “If our government cannot protect us, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do,” Obasanjo said, adding that no Nigerian “should be left to die because of their tribe, religion, or region.
Obasanjo’s call has added fresh pressure on the Tinubu administration, which in recent weeks has faced mounting criticism over its handling of security crises — from mass kidnappings of schoolchildren to deadly attacks on villages, security posts, and civilian travellers.
As debate intensifies over the scope of Nigeria’s security collapse and possible international involvement, Dalena Reporters will continue to monitor reactions from government officials, regional actors, civil-society groups, and foreign partners.