Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has responded sharply to the decision by the Donald Trump administration in the United States to redesignate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) for religious-freedom violations.
Obi said the move should put every well-meaning Nigerian on serious alert. According to him, the US warning reflects the depth of the security crisis in Nigeria and the tragedy is that much of it could have been prevented.
He cited a report from Amnesty International which claimed that over 10,000 people have died since May 2023 in Nigeria’s ongoing violence. Obi described this loss of lives and property as “unacceptable and heartbreaking”.
While acknowledging that insecurity did not originate with the current government, Obi insisted the carnage is essentially a failure of leadership, not fate. He criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress-led administration for lacking moral will, competence, patriotism and commitment to guiding the country to peace and justice.
Obi appealed to both the Nigerian and US governments to pursue constructive diplomacy rather than confrontation. He reminded stakeholders of the long-standing strategic partnership between the two democracies, and stressed that now is the time for “sincere and collaborative engagement” to address the root causes of Nigeria’s security challenges.
The US moved to designate Nigeria as a CPC amid allegations of mass killings of Christians and failures by the Nigerian government to halt them – allegations that Abuja strongly denies. The label opens the door for possible sanctions and military considerations.
Nigeria’s government argues that the violence is complex; rooted in insurgency, banditry, herder-farmer clashes, not simply religious persecution. Analysts warn the CPC tag could strain diplomatic ties, impact aid and trade, and worsen internal fractures if not handled carefully.
Obi’s comments build on his long-standing critique of Nigeria’s governance. He has repeatedly flagged that the country needs selfless, competent leadership and has lamented the erosion of democratic norms under successive governments.
