Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has described the recent evacuation directive issued by the U.S. Department of State as a troubling signal of Nigeria’s worsening security situation, warning that the development poses serious implications for the country’s future.
In a statement posted on Thursday, April 9, Obi said the move by the United States to withdraw embassy staff from Abuja should be treated as a national emergency.
“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, especially for a country already struggling to attract investors,” he stated.
Obi noted that Nigeria’s security challenges have continued to escalate despite global indicators already placing the country among the most affected by terrorism.
“Nigeria currently ranks fourth in the Global Terrorism Index, yet insecurity continues to worsen — lives are being lost and communities remain under constant threat,” he said.
He criticised what he described as a failure of governance, arguing that political interests appear to be taking precedence over citizens’ safety.
“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,” Obi added.
The former Anambra State governor warned that the U.S. action reflects declining international confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture, stressing that such perceptions could further weaken investor trust.
“The U.S. directive is a clear signal of declining confidence in our national security architecture,” he said, referencing reports of fresh casualties in the North-East, including the death of a senior military officer.
“A nation where people cannot live, work, worship, or travel safely cannot progress or attract investment,” Obi noted.
He emphasised that the core responsibility of government remains the protection of lives and property, lamenting that successive leadership failures have continued to put pressure on security forces.
“The primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property, yet in this regard, we as leaders have fallen short over the years,” he said.
Drawing a stark comparison, Obi concluded with a warning on misplaced priorities among political leaders.
“Sadly, 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.”
