Makinde Told Me Tinubu Hasn't Called Him Since Abduction of 37 Pupils, Teachers in Oyo — Peter Obi

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has claimed that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde told him he had not received a single telephone call from President Bola Tinubu since the abduction of 37 pupils and teachers in the state more than 50 days ago.

In a statement released on X following a visit to Makinde in Ibadan alongside economist Prof. Pat Utomi, Obi said he was shocked to learn that the governor had not been contacted by Tinubu despite the prolonged kidnapping ordeal.

"To my utmost shock, I discovered that, contrary to my assumption that they had been in regular communication over the matter, Governor Seyi Makinde had not received a single call from Tinubu," Obi said.

Obi said he travelled to Oyo State to express solidarity with the governor after more than 50 days had elapsed without the rescue of the abducted schoolchildren, adding that he had earlier spoken publicly about the incident and appealed to the kidnappers to release the victims.

Drawing from his experience as governor of Anambra State, Obi said former Nigerian leaders, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan, regularly contacted state governors during major security crises.

He recalled the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, noting that Tinubu was among those who criticised Jonathan for delaying his call to the then Borno State governor over the incident.

According to Obi, there have been more than 13 school kidnappings under Tinubu's administration, yet the president had allegedly failed to personally reach out to affected governors.

"The government and people of Oyo State, more than 50 days after the abduction of the schoolchildren without any tangible effort toward their rescue, should rightly feel bitter and abandoned," Obi stated.

He described the situation as evidence of what he called a collapse in governance, accusing the administration of lacking both the capacity and compassion required to address Nigeria's worsening insecurity.

Obi further argued that, in light of the security situation, Tinubu should either resign or refrain from seeking re-election, describing his appeal as "patriotic, not political."