US State Department's Security Alert, Evacuation Of Embassy Staff, Reflects Nigeria's Leadership Failure – Peter Obi

Former governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, warning that recent security alerts raised by the United States Department of State showed signs a troubling loss of international confidence in the country.

He was reacting to reports that the United States had begun evacuating embassy personnel due to heightened insecurity, describing the development as “a bad omen” that should be treated with dispatch.

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According to Obi, Nigeria’s current ranking among the most terror-affected countries globally reflects the severity of the crisis, lamenting that insecurity continues to escalate despite its devastating impact on lives and communities.

He criticised what he described as failure of leadership, accusing the political actors of prioritising power struggles over the safety of citizens.

Referencing fresh security challenges, including the reported killing of a senior military officer in Borno State, Obi described the situation as a grim reminder of the sacrifices being made by security personnel, even as the primary responsibility of government remains the protection of lives and property, warning that continued failure in this regard would jeopardise the nation’s future.

His words, “The recent directive by the United States to evacuate its embassy staff from Nigeria due to rising insecurity is deeply worrisome and should be treated as a national emergency.

 “As Nigeria deteriorates, we as leaders, like Nero, remain preoccupied with politics, forgetting that without security, there is no nation to govern and no future to campaign for.

“Our failure continues to place immense strain on our troops, who make the ultimate sacrifices.

“Nigeria currently ranks fourth in the Global Terrorism Index, yet insecurity continues to worsen—lives are being lost and communities remain under constant threat.

“There is a glaring absence of effective governance; instead, what prevails are schemes that undermine democratic processes, as though politics has taken precedence over the safety of citizens.

“The U.S. directive is a clear signal of declining confidence in our national security architecture.

“A nation where people cannot live, work, worship, or travel safely cannot pr