The recruitment of about 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State, is a demonstration of “poor leadership”

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the recruitment of about 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State, describing it as a demonstration of “poor leadership” and a reactive approach to governance and security.

Obi stated this in a statement posted on his X handle on Friday, titled What Our Pervasive Insecurity Requires: A Holistic Not Reactive Approach.

The former Anambra state governor said the decision reflects what he described as the Federal Government’s tendency to address critical issues without adequate planning.

“In a hasty effort to be perceived as attentive and courageous, it is reported that President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of about 1000 forest guards for Oyo State. This is a further demonstration of poor leadership and attending to very serious governance and security issues with a reactive approach,” he said.
He added that the approach was similar, in his view, to the policies that followed the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, which he said had caused “irreparable damage to ordinary Nigerians and the economy.”

PUNCH Online reports that Tinubu approved the recruitment following recent abductions of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

While acknowledging the need for more security personnel, Obi questioned the sustainability and consistency of such measures.

“Presently, almost all the 36 states in Nigeria are experiencing different forms of insecurity, with Oyo, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Katsina, Anambra, Niger, Imo, and Sokoto being very alarming,” he noted.

Obi questioned whether similar approvals would be extended to all states.

“The question, such as the reactive approach of our President, is whether all the states will receive the same approval to recruit 1000 forest guards per state, that is 37,000 forest guards for the 36 states and Abuja, or is the recruitment approval based on the mood of the President?” he asked.

He also queried the possible implications for existing regional security outfits.

“Moreover, with the approval for Oyo, what will happen to the Amotekun Corps that is trying its best to secure South-West Nigeria? Will they be disbanded in Oyo State?” he said.

Obi further stated that insecurity in Nigeria reflects what he described as systemic leadership failure, noting that over 10,000 Nigerians had reportedly been killed since 2023, while Nigeria remains among the world’s most terror-affected countries.

He said addressing insecurity requires a holistic or ecosystem-based approach.

“Addressing our insecurity situation requires a holistic or what can be described as an ecosystem approach.

“With failure in leadership, there is failure in unifying our dear nation, failure in industrialisation, failure in harnessing our abundant resources in agriculture, minerals, tourism, water, sports and even oil and gas to effectively generate required revenue, growth and particularly jobs for our exponentially growing youth population,” Obi said.