“We Scolded Trump for Calling Us Disgraced, Yet We Act Like One” – Obi Lambasts Lawlessness, Political Sabotage

By Emmanuel Kwada

Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has accused Nigerians of hypocrisy for angrily condemning United States President Donald Trump when he recently labelled Nigeria a “now disgraced country,” while the nation continues to behave in ways that justify the description.

In a strongly worded statement released this morning, Obi pointed to a string of devastating security incidents in the last week alone; including the brutal terrorist killings and a fresh attack on church worshippers as evidence that the outrage against Trump was misplaced.

“A few weeks ago, when President Trump described our country as ‘now disgraced,’ many were outraged,” Obi wrote. “Yet, how can we dispute it when, within a single week, 25 people were kidnapped, and one of our generals along with other officers was killed? Today, we witness another troubling terror attack in Kwara State.”

The former governor was referring to multiple confirmed incidents: On or around November 15–17, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists ambushed a Nigerian Army convoy in Borno State, captured and executed Brigadier General M Uba, commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, along with several other officers.

Just yesterday, November 18, armed bandits stormed a Christ Apostolic Church parish in Eruku, Kwara State, during an evening service. Reports confirmed at least three to five worshippers killed, several injured, and the pastor plus multiple congregants abducted. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as gunmen ransacked the church.

“Rather than uniting in this critical moment, we are consumed by internal wrangling, party squabbles, and distractions,” Obi continued.

He directly accused the Tinubu administration of deliberately engineering crises in opposition parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and others instead of tackling the security collapse.

“What we witness today is the opposite [of democracy],” Obi wrote, recalling the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s 2009 directive to INEC that no political party, including opposition parties, should be undermined because “the stability of every political party… was essential for democracy.”

“The current government seems more intent on weakening parties than strengthening our democracy, seeking to fragment the PDP, Labour Party, SDP, and others,” he charged.

Many commentators echoed Obi’s sentiment almost verbatim: “We act like a disgraced nation but scolded Trump for saying the obvious.”

The presidency has not yet responded to Obi’s latest statement. Earlier this month, however, presidential spokespersons dismissed Trump’s threats as non-literal and welcomed U.S. assistance against terrorism, while rejecting claims of targeted Christian persecution.

As banditry, insurgency, and kidnappings continue unabated across multiple states, Obi closed with his familiar refrain: “A New Nigeria is Possible.”