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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has pledged to prioritise the fight against insecurity and ensure that Nigerians displaced by violence return safely to their communities if elected president in 2027.
Obi made the pledge as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence anniversary, using the occasion to offer a critical assessment of the country’s security, economic and development challenges.
According to Obi, insecurity has forced many Nigerians away from their homes, farms and sources of livelihood, leaving communities displaced and families struggling to rebuild their lives.
He said addressing insecurity would be central to his administration, arguing that Nigerians should be able to live, work and travel safely without fear of kidnapping, banditry, terrorism or other forms of violent crime.
Obi also criticised the performance of the current APC-led Federal Government, arguing that there is a wide gap between promises made to Nigerians and the realities many citizens experience.
His remarks come amid continuing security incidents in different parts of the country, including kidnappings, attacks on rural communities and the displacement of residents from areas affected by prolonged violence.
Beyond security, Obi used his Independence Day message to question Nigeria’s development trajectory after 66 years of nationhood, pointing to poverty, unemployment and the cost-of-living pressures confronting households.
He nevertheless urged Nigerians not to despair about the country’s future, maintaining that Nigeria’s challenges could be addressed through changes in governance, economic management and security strategy.
The Tinubu administration, for its part, says Nigeria’s economic and security situation is improving and argues that reforms undertaken since 2023 have strengthened the foundations of the economy. In his Independence Day address, President Bola Tinubu said his government had passed through the most difficult stage of its reforms and would now focus on reducing living costs, creating productive employment and delivering what he described as “shared and widespread prosperity.”
With the 2027 general election approaching, security is set to remain a major issue in the competing policy programmes presented by the government and opposition.
For millions of Nigerians affected directly or indirectly by insecurity, the central question will be measurable: what specific strategy can reduce attacks, dismantle kidnapping and terrorist networks, secure farming communities and enable displaced families to return home safely?
