Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, over his reaction to the United States’ recent designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.”
In a statement issued by the party’s spokesperson, Hon. Seye Oladejo, the APC accused Obi of exploiting a sensitive national issue for political gain instead of demonstrating true statesmanship.
According to Oladejo, Obi’s delayed reaction to the U.S. designation revealed a lack of patriotic conviction, suggesting that his eventual response came only after public pressure.
“For a man always seeking microphones and hashtags, his sudden silence was deafening — until well-meaning Nigerians began to publicly question it,” the statement read.
“It has become clear that Obi did not speak out of patriotic instinct, but out of public pressure and fear of further exposing his double standards.”
The party described Obi’s statement as “too little, too late, and too predictable,” adding that it lacked sincerity, urgency, and a unifying spirit.
“A man who claims to desire national leadership should not require public reminders to speak when his nation’s image is at stake,
“Leadership is proactive, not reactive, and certainly not driven by online agitation,” Oladejo said.
The APC further alleged that Obi thrives politically when Nigeria faces challenges, accusing him of turning national issues into opportunities for “political resurrection.”
“Peter Obi appears content only when Nigeria is under pressure, believing every challenge for the nation is an opportunity for his political resurrection. That is not patriotism; it is sour politics born from electoral heartbreak,” the statement added.
On national security, the party defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that he inherited existing security challenges but is addressing them through strategic reforms.
“President Tinubu is confronting insecurity with courage and strategy — strengthening military command, deploying modern technology, and tackling the economic roots of insecurity through bold reforms,” Oladejo noted.
The statement urged Obi to choose between “standing with Nigeria or persisting in political desperation,” adding that leadership requires maturity and consistency.
“Nigeria will not bow to those rooting for its challenges to worsen. The public should stay focused on the Renewed Hope agenda and reject individuals who profit politically from national difficulty,” the APC concluded.
