Former Labour Party presidential candidate says the decision reflects a reactive rather than proactive approach to security challenges.
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Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State, describing the move as an example of “poor leadership.”
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Peter Obi made the remarks in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, where he questioned the timing of the Federal Government’s decision. According to him, effective leadership should anticipate and prevent security threats rather than respond only after tragic incidents have occurred.
The approval for the recruitment of the forest guards followed recent abductions involving schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident that heightened concerns over insecurity in the area.
Obi argued that governments should prioritize proactive security strategies capable of protecting lives and property before criminal attacks take place. He maintained that reactive measures often come at a significant human and social cost.
The Federal Government’s decision to recruit the forest guards is aimed at strengthening security within forested areas that have increasingly been exploited by criminal elements for kidnapping and other illegal activities.
The development has generated public debate, with supporters viewing the recruitment as a necessary intervention to enhance local security, while critics argue that stronger preventive measures should have been implemented earlier.
Security remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing national challenges, with governments at different levels adopting various strategies to combat kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes.
