FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has fired back at Labour Party’s Peter Obi, insisting that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State bears the primary responsibility of reaching out to President Bola Tinubu regarding the abduction of pupils and teachers — and not the other way around.
In what is shaping up to be one of the hottest political exchanges of the season, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has thrown a sharp response at former presidential candidate Peter Obi, making it crystal clear where he believes the buck stops when tragedy strikes a state.
Wike, who has never been one to mince words — and Nigerians know this too well — stated emphatically that it is the constitutional and moral responsibility of state governors to keep the President informed about security crises and emergencies happening within their domains. According to him, governors should not fold their arms and wait for President Tinubu to pick up the phone first.
“It Is Not Tinubu’s Job to Chase You”
The Rivers State-born minister was reacting to comments made by Peter Obi, who had apparently questioned why President Tinubu had not personally reached out over the disturbing abduction of pupils and teachers — a case that has thrown many Nigerian families into panic and grief.
But Wike was having none of it.
In his characteristic bold manner, the minister argued that the chain of governance flows from the grassroots upward — and that when something goes wrong in Oyo State, it is Governor Seyi Makinde who should be on the phone with Abuja, briefing the President and demanding federal support. Not the other way around.
A Lesson in Nigerian Governance Structure
For many Nigerians observing from the sidelines, Wike’s argument touches on a real conversation about how our federal structure is supposed to work. Nigeria operates a federal system where states are not merely extensions of the federal government — they are supposed to be active, responsive units of governance.
This means:
– Governors are the chief security officers of their states — at least in principle
– It is their duty to escalate security threats to the federal level
– Waiting passively while children remain in captivity is simply not acceptable governance
Peter Obi’s Position and the Politics Behind It
Peter Obi, the Anambra-born businessman and Labour Party flagbearer in the 2023 elections, has continued to position himself as a voice for accountability in Nigerian governance — a role his millions of “Obidient” supporters across the country celebrate loudly.
His criticism of President Tinubu’s response to the abduction was likely seen by many as a legitimate question of presidential empathy and urgency. After all, when children are kidnapped, Nigerians — from Lagos Island to Maiduguri — want to see their leaders move with fire and urgency.
However, Wike clearly sees it differently, arguing that such criticisms ignore the responsibilities that sit squarely on the shoulders of state-level leadership.
The Bigger Picture: Children Are Still Missing
Beyond the political fireworks, it is crucial that Nigerians do not lose sight of what truly matters here — innocent pupils and their teachers who were abducted and whose families are currently living in agony.
Whether it is Tinubu calling Makinde, or Makinde calling Tinubu, or Peter Obi speaking from the opposition corner — the end goal must be the safe return of every single one of these victims.
Nigerian parents have suffered enough. From Chibok to Kagara, from Kankara to this latest tragedy, the pattern of school abductions has left a deep, painful scar on our national conscience.
What Nigerians Are Saying
Reactions on social media have been predictably divided. Many Tinubu supporters are backing Wike’s stance, arguing that critics like Peter Obi are simply playing politics with a tragedy. On the other hand, a large number of Nigerians feel that presidential leadership means taking initiative — not waiting for protocol.
One Twitter/X user summed it up bluntly:
> “Whether na Makinde call Tinubu or Tinubu call Makinde, my pikin still dey inside bush. Una better focus!”
That sentiment, perhaps, says it all.
As the political bickering continues in Abuja and across party lines, ordinary Nigerians are united in one prayer — that these abducted children and teachers return home safely, and that those responsible face the full weight of justice.
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