The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has claimed that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde told him President Bola Tinubu has not made a single phone call to him since the abduction of 37 pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state over 50 days ago. The Presidency had not responded to the claim at the time of filing this report.
Former Anambra State Governor and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the prolonged abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, alleging that the President has not personally contacted Governor Seyi Makinde since the incident occurred.
Obi made the claim in a statement after visiting Governor Makinde in Ibadan alongside political economist Prof. Pat Utomi to discuss the security situation and express solidarity with the state government.
According to Obi, he was surprised to learn during the meeting that Governor Makinde had allegedly not received any telephone call from President Tinubu since the kidnapping of the pupils and teachers more than 50 days earlier.
Obi said he had assumed both leaders were in regular communication given the scale of the incident, adding that he personally reached out to Makinde on two occasions after the attack.
Drawing comparisons with previous administrations, Obi recalled that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan contacted state governors whenever major security crises occurred. He also referenced the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, noting that Tinubu was among those who criticised then-President Jonathan over his handling of that incident.
The abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area has generated nationwide concern, with families, civil society groups and political leaders repeatedly calling for intensified rescue efforts.
Obi argued that the prolonged captivity of the victims reflects a broader leadership and security challenge, insisting that the Federal Government should demonstrate greater urgency and compassion in responding to such incidents.
Obi urged President Tinubu to place greater priority on addressing insecurity and maintaining direct engagement with affected state governments during major national emergencies.
As of the time of publication, neither the Presidency nor Governor Makinde had publicly responded to Obi’s specific claim that no phone call had taken place between the President and the governor regarding the abduction.
The comments have added to the ongoing political debate over Nigeria’s security situation ahead of the 2027 general elections. Meanwhile, efforts to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers remain a matter of national concern as families continue to await positive developments.