Tinubu’s Men Hit Back at Obasanjo, Obi Over ‘Incompetence’ and ‘Killing Field’ Claims

…APC Lagos accuses ex-president of bitterness
…Says Obi peddling falsehood

By Yinka Giwa & Franklin Adole

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday launched a blistering counterattack on former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, over their recent criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dismissing the remarks as “laughable, hypocritical, and undeserving of serious attention.”

Obasanjo, in his new book Nigeria: Past and Future, alleged that Tinubu’s government is “competing with Buhari in incompetence.” Obi, on his part, said on Monday that Nigeria had become a “killing field” under the current administration, with more than 10,000 people killed by terrorists, bandits, and criminal gangs in just two years.

The publication, which was unveiled in March during activities marking Obasanjo’s 88th birthday, was accompanied by another work, Lest We Forget: Slavery, Slave Trade, Emancipation, and Reparation. In one chapter, the former president branded the Muhammadu Buhari era as “the worst civil administration in Nigeria’s history,” insisting that Tinubu’s government is treading the same path.

Reacting in a strongly worded statement, Lagos APC spokesman, Seye Oladejo, dismissed Obasanjo’s verdict as nothing more than an unmerited swipe from a man who had lost political relevance. “It is ironic that a leader whose tenure was marked by arrogance, wasted opportunities, and repeated attempts to undermine democracy now seeks to lecture others on competence,” Oladejo said.

According to him, Tinubu has demonstrated political will through bold reforms avoided by past governments, including Obasanjo’s. “Removing fuel subsidies, reforming the foreign exchange market, and confronting inefficiencies are not signs of incompetence but courageous steps towards rebuilding Nigeria. What Obasanjo calls incompetence is simply the courage to do what he and others could not,” the statement added.

The Lagos APC accused Obasanjo of nursing bitterness and maintaining a pattern of undermining leaders he could not control. “His tenure witnessed some of the worst excesses in corruption and mismanagement. Billions vanished in the power sector, the economy sank deeper into debt despite his claims of repayment, and his infamous third-term bid nearly plunged the nation into chaos,” the party noted.

Oladejo advised the former president to show restraint, adding: “At his age, he should be offering wisdom, not fueling discord. If he cannot contribute constructively, silence would serve him—and Nigeria—better than this brand of attention-seeking rhetoric.” He insisted that Tinubu is not in competition with Obasanjo or any past leader but is focused on pulling the country back to stability. “Nigeria’s challenges did not begin with Buhari, nor are they worsening under Tinubu. Much of the rot traces back to Obasanjo’s own watch. The current administration is committed to reform and renewal, and no amount of bitterness from yesterday’s men will derail that journey,” he said.

The Lagos APC also faulted Obi’s declaration that Nigeria is now a “killing field,” arguing that his claim was sensationalist and misleading. While Obi said his figures were based on data from Amnesty International, Oladejo countered that there is verifiable evidence of progress under Tinubu. “APC utterly rejects and condemns the allegation by Mr Peter Obi that Nigeria is now a killing field with more than 10,000 deaths under Tinubu’s watch. These sensationalist claims are baseless and a disgraceful distortion of reality made in bad faith to score political points,” he declared.

He said the Renewed Hope Agenda had strengthened Nigeria’s armed forces, leading to significant gains against terrorists and bandits. Citing official reports, he said the defence ministry’s midterm review (August 2023–April 2025) showed that 9,415 terrorists were neutralised, 3,159 suspects arrested, and 5,449 hostages rescued. He added that the defence headquarters’ two-year summary documented 6,260 terrorists killed, 14,138 suspects apprehended, 5,365 civilians rescued, and stolen crude worth N83 billion recovered.

Oladejo gave a breakdown of military operations across the zones, noting that in the North-East (Operation Hadin Kai), 1,246 terrorists were killed, 2,467 arrested, and 1,920 civilians rescued. In the North-West (Operation Fasan Yamma), 1,374 bandits were killed, 2,160 arrested or surrendered, and 3,288 hostages freed. “These are not mere statistics; they are lives saved, communities secured, and terror networks dismantled,” he stressed.

He cited a recent air operation in Katsina that freed 76 hostages, including children kidnapped during a mosque attack that left at least 50 dead. One child tragically died in the rescue, but Oladejo said the operation highlighted the bravery of the military. He added that subsequent air strikes eliminated 35 militants in the same region, while in Borno State, precision raids killed another 35 extremists and restored key ground communications. Earlier this year, a week-long offensive in Borno neutralised 76 extremists, arrested 72 suspects, and rescued eight hostages.

On military capacity, Oladejo said Tinubu had overseen major acquisitions for the Nigerian Air Force, including 24 M-346 attack jets and 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters, while the Army and Navy had been equipped with tactical vehicles and patrol vessels. He said local defence manufacturing had expanded under the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), which has produced 4.6 million rounds of ammunition, 53 MRAPs, 14,040 PPE units, and drones, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

According to him, Tinubu’s leadership has also received commendation from the Coalition for Human Rights and Freedom (CHRF), which praised the armed forces for neutralising over 13,500 terrorists and rescuing nearly 10,000 hostages. “These are tangible, verifiable successes—nothing like the exaggerated sensationalism offered by Mr. Obi. The Nigerian Armed Forces are standing tall, striking back aggressively, saving lives, and securing our nation,” he said.

Oladejo concluded that the Lagos APC stands firmly behind President Tinubu and Nigeria’s military. “We invite Mr. Obi and others to acknowledge the progress being made or risk being left behind in baseless political dramatics,” he said.