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Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the recruitment of about 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State, describing the move as evidence of a reactive approach to governance and security.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, Obi argued that the decision reflected a pattern of addressing major national challenges without adequate planning.
What Our Pervasive Insecurity Requires: A Holistic not Reactive Approach.
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…
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 5, 2026
According to him, the approval appeared to be a hurried attempt to demonstrate responsiveness to security concerns rather than part of a comprehensive strategy. He maintained that the move showed what he viewed as poor leadership and a tendency to tackle serious governance and security issues only after they escalate.
“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.
Obi compared the decision to other policies implemented by the current administration, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, which he said had inflicted significant hardship on Nigerians and the economy.
President Tinubu approved the recruitment following the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
While acknowledging the need to strengthen security, Obi questioned whether similar approvals would be granted to all states facing insecurity, noting that many states across the country are grappling with serious security challenges.
He argued that if the measure was to be applied nationwide, it would require the recruitment of about 37,000 forest guards across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. He questioned whether such decisions were being guided by a consistent policy framework or by the circumstances of individual cases.
“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.
“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.
The former governor also raised concerns about the implications of the approval for existing regional security outfits, particularly the Amotekun Corps, which operates across the South-West.
“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 described Nigeria’s security crisis as a symptom of broader leadership failures, citing reports that thousands of Nigerians have been killed since 2023 while the country continues to rank among the world’s most affected by terrorism.
He argued that insecurity cannot be solved through isolated measures and called for a comprehensive approach that addresses underlying issues such as unemployment, weak national cohesion, poor industrialisation and the underutilisation of the country’s resources.
According to Obi, lasting security can only be achieved through policies that create economic opportunities, strengthen institutions and tackle the structural problems driving instability across the country.
