Former presidential candidate Peter Obi issued a scathing indictment of Nigeria’s political class, accusing leaders of practising a politics devoid of humanity by prioritising 2027 election strategies over the escalating loss of lives nationwide.
In a statement posted on his X page on Sunday, Obi said the first two months of 2026 had been marked by staggering violence, with more than 1,000 Nigerians reportedly killed and thousands abducted.
He argued that the political energy being channelled into “grabbing and running” ahead of the next election cycle insulted families who were mourning their loved ones.
Obi highlighted the widespread nature of the insecurity, noting that major attacks, mass shootings and village invasions had affected more than 25 states across all geopolitical zones this year alone.
From Zamfara State to Ondo State, and Benue State to Plateau State, he painted a grim picture of communities emptied by fear.
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He said the scale of the carnage now rivalled — and in some cases exceeded — that of countries at war.
“The urgency with which we discuss these tragedies does not match the urgency of our discussions surrounding zoning formulas, party structures and campaign strategies,” he said.
“This is the tragedy of our politics.”Obi referenced recent scenes in the Doruwa Babuje community in Plateau State, where families buried victims of terrorist attacks.
He lamented that while the burials took place, national discourse remained fixated on party politics and 2027 ambitions.
“We debated power-sharing while citizens shared funeral programmes,” he said. “We strategised about 2027 while Nigerians struggled to survive 2026. This was inhumane.”
He called for a fundamental shift in the definition of leadership, insisting that a government’s success should be measured by the safety and dignity of its people rather than political dominance.
Obi warned that history would judge the current leadership not by their political “perfection” but by their failure to act while citizens were dying.
“We must choose Nigerian lives over politics. We must put Nigerians first,” he added.
