Summary
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reaffirmed that Nigerians retain the right to seek international assistance whenever their government fails in its constitutional responsibility to ensure their safety.
Speaking at the 2025 Plateau Unity Christmas Carol held at the Ten Commandments Altar in Jos, where he appeared as a special guest at the invitation of the Plateau State Government, Obasanjo stressed that the protection of citizens is non-negotiable.
He argued that there should be no hesitation in requesting global support when insecurity overwhelms national capacity, stating, “If our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do, and we should have no apology for that.” Obasanjo noted that with advanced tools such as satellites and drones, criminals should not be able to operate freely or vanish after attacks.
He questioned the continuous cycle of negotiation and apology over national security failures, adding, “Why are we apologising? Why are we negotiating? The government must stop the killing of Nigerians. We are being killed, we are tired, and we want the killing to stop.” The former president lamented the worsening insecurity across Nigeria, asserting that although the government is obligated to safeguard citizens, its performance has remained insufficient.
Obasanjo referenced the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls as a turning point that exposed deteriorating safety conditions, explaining that the situation has only worsened despite years of promises and interventions. He stressed that security should not be treated as an optional duty, pointing out that “since the kidnapping of the Chibok girls, it has continued to go from bad to worse.”
Emphasising that the crisis should not be trivialised through ethnic or religious comparisons, he said killings must be recognised as a national tragedy. “We Nigerians are being killed—no matter the religion you belong to, no matter where you come from. And for anybody saying that when we are being killed, another group is also being killed, I believe that is nonsensical,” he stated.
This year’s Plateau Unity Christmas Carol drew top government figures, religious leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies and thousands of worshippers. The gathering focused on calls for unity, healing and reconciliation across Plateau State and the wider country. It marked the second edition of the annual carol celebration, held against the backdrop of ongoing national concerns about growing insecurity.
What you should know
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo used the Plateau Unity Christmas Carol to voice strong concerns about Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
He maintained that citizens have the right to seek international help if the government fails in its core responsibility to protect them.
Stressing that killings must stop, he warned against framing national tragedies along ethnic or religious lines and reminded leaders that insecurity has steadily escalated since the Chibok abductions.
