Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, claiming the president has not contacted Governor Seyi Makinde more than 50 days after the incident.

In a post on X on Monday titled “Worsening Leadership Crisis in the Country Now Evident,” Obi described the situation as evidence of a deepening leadership crisis, accusing the federal government of lacking compassion and effective capacity to address insecurity.

The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed gunmen attacked multiple schools in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, taking away dozens of pupils (including very young children) and teachers. The victims remain in captivity as of early July.

Obi said he has spoken publicly about the incident twice, including direct appeals to the kidnappers for the children’s release. He also revealed that he contacted Governor Makinde twice to express solidarity, emphasising that the tragedy is a national issue rather than one confined to Oyo State.

“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 wrote.

On Friday, July 3, Obi visited Ibadan alongside economist Prof. Pat Utomi to meet with Governor Makinde and discuss the security situation. During the meeting, Obi shared lessons from his time as governor of Anambra State, where he managed insecurity challenges. He noted that past presidents — Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan — routinely engaged directly with state governors during major security incidents.

To his shock, Obi said Makinde informed him that President Tinubu had not reached out even once since the abduction.

“But, 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 President Bola Tinubu,” Obi stated.

Obi drew parallels with the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, recalling that Tinubu, then in opposition, had criticised President Jonathan for taking more than two weeks to contact the affected governor.

The comments come amid broader concerns over recurring school abductions in parts of Nigeria, with the Oyo incident highlighting the spread of such violence to the southwest. Obi has used the episode to question the Tinubu administration’s approach to national security.

No immediate response from the presidency was reported as of Monday.