US Invasion Threat: Obi Rips into Tinubu, APC

…Blames Incompetence for America’s Warning to Intervene Over Christian Killings

By Yinka Giwa

The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of gross incompetence, alleging that their failure to govern effectively has pushed Nigeria to the brink of international intervention.

Obi was reacting to recent remarks from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who hinted that Washington might “intervene militarily” to protect Nigeria’s Christian population from persistent attacks by Islamist insurgents and armed groups. His statement, posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, warned that the threat of a U.S. invasion should “deeply worry every well-meaning Nigerian” and serve as a wake-up call to the Tinubu administration.

“The recent pronouncement by the U.S. government declaring Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) and indicating possible military action should give every well-meaning Nigerian serious concern,” Obi wrote. “There is no doubt that Nigeria is experiencing an unprecedented level of insecurity with attendant carnage and the most shocking loss of lives and property.”

Citing Amnesty International, Obi noted that more than 10,000 Nigerians have been killed since May 2023, a figure he said underscores the government’s failure to protect its citizens. He described the situation as “significantly avoidable” and directly linked it to the APC government’s lack of competence, commitment, and prudent resource management.

“While the insecurity did not start with the present government, what is most unfortunate is the absence of competence, patriotism, and passion on the part of APC leaders to effectively govern,” Obi said. “We need a government that can galvanise and lead Nigeria to a place where no one is unwarrantedly oppressed or killed — a nation where peace, truth, and justice reign.”

The former Anambra State governor also revisited the failures of past APC administrations, saying that both President Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, had “squandered years of goodwill” and resources that could have been used to rebuild Nigeria’s security architecture. According to him, the continuing killings of Christians and other vulnerable groups are a tragic consequence of that neglect.

Obi, however, urged both the Nigerian and U.S. governments to pursue a diplomatic path rather than confrontation. He emphasized that Nigeria and the U.S. have long shared a strategic partnership founded on democracy and regional peace, and that the relationship “should not be allowed to deteriorate into hostility.”

“As democracies, Nigeria and the U.S. have long been strategic partners committed to regional peace and security. That relationship should not falter,” he said. “The present situation calls for constructive diplomatic and other plausible engagements by both nations aimed at addressing the prevailing and disturbing security concerns.”

Political observers say Obi’s intervention highlights his growing role as a vocal moral critic of the Tinubu administration, particularly on issues of governance and national security. His remarks also come amid rising concern over religiously motivated violence in northern and central Nigeria, which has drawn international condemnation and revived debates over successive governments’ ability to maintain order.

While the U.S. threat of intervention remains largely rhetorical at this stage, analysts warn that continued instability could invite greater foreign involvement in Nigeria’s internal affairs: an outcome many Nigerians fear, but which Obi says could have been avoided with competent and compassionate leadership.