The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi has said Nigeria should treat the recent directive by the United States (US) to evacuate its embassy staff from Nigeria due to rising insecurity in the country as national emergency.

Obi in a statement issued on Thursday, described the situation as “Deeply worrisome, especially for a country already struggling to attract investors.”

He noted that Nigeria currently ranks fourth in the Global Terrorism Index, while insecurity continues to worsen, with lives being lost and communities under constant threat.

“There is a glaring absence of effective governance; instead, what prevails are schemes that undermine democratic processes, as though politics has taken precedence over the safety of citizens,” Obi stated.

According to him, the U.S. directive is a clear signal of declining confidence in the national security architecture.

He added that reports concerning the loss of yet another Army Brigadier General to terrorists in Borno earlier today, are disturbing.

Obi stated that a nation where people cannot live, work, worship, or travel safely cannot progress or attract investment.

“The primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property, yet in this regard, we as leaders have fallen short over the years.

“Our failure continues to place immense strain on our troops, who make the ultimate sacrifices,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor regretted that as Nigeria deteriorates, “leaders, like Nero, remain preoccupied with politics, forgetting that without security, there is no nation to govern and no future to campaign for.”