Why Security Challenges Require Systemic Solutions, Not Forest Guards, Obi Tells Tinubu
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s approval of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State, describing the move as a reactive response to the country’s worsening security challenges.
The recruitment was announced following the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. A federal government delegation sent by President Tinubu to the affected communities disclosed that the forest guards would be recruited in collaboration with the Oyo State Government as part of efforts to strengthen security.
Reacting in a statement on Friday, Obi argued that the decision reflected poor leadership and an inconsistent approach to tackling insecurity.
According to him, security challenges require strategic planning rather than emergency measures taken in response to isolated incidents.
“In a hasty effort to be perceived as attentive and courageous, it is reported that President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of about 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State. This further demonstrates poor leadership and the tendency to address critical governance and security issues with a reactive approach,” Obi said.
He likened the move to what he described as the government’s reactive handling of economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, which he said had negatively affected Nigerians and the economy.
Obi also linked the country’s security crisis to failures in leadership, noting that thousands of Nigerians have been killed in violent attacks since 2023.
“The pervasive insecurity we currently face is directly related to leadership failure. It is only a failure in leadership that can result in the loss of over 10,000 innocent Nigerians and leave Nigeria ranked among the countries most affected by terrorism,” he stated.
While acknowledging the need to recruit more security personnel, Obi insisted that such initiatives should be implemented through a coordinated national strategy rather than ad hoc measures.
He noted that insecurity remains widespread across several states, including Oyo, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Katsina, Anambra, Niger, Imo and Sokoto.
The former Anambra State governor also questioned whether similar approvals would be extended to other states facing security threats and expressed concerns about the future role of the South-West security outfit, Amotekun Corps.
He asked whether all states would be allowed to recruit a similar number of forest guards or whether such approvals would depend on presidential discretion.
Obi further wondered how the new security arrangement would affect the operations of Amotekun, which was established to support security efforts across the South-West.
He called for a holistic approach to addressing insecurity, arguing that sustainable solutions must include national unity, economic development, job creation and the effective utilisation of the country’s resources.
According to him, leadership failures in governance, industrialisation, agriculture, tourism, mining and youth employment have contributed significantly to the security challenges confronting the country.
