Peter Obi blames leadership failure for rising youth violence

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the rising tide of violence among Nigerian youths, attributing the disturbing trend to the negative examples set by the country’s political leaders.

Obi made the remarks on Tuesday via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, following a tragic incident at Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State, where two students were reportedly shot dead and several others injured during a student union election on Monday.

The former Anambra State governor described the violence as “disgraceful” and “a national indictment,” insisting that such conduct among the youth mirrors the growing moral collapse and breakdown of civility in Nigeria’s political and social space.

“Everything happening in Nigeria today reflects the decay of civility and orderliness,” Obi stated. “When people choose to conduct their public and private lives with bad behaviour and rascality, they normalise lawlessness and criminality.”

Obi questioned the source of the violent tendencies increasingly exhibited by young Nigerians, particularly in institutions meant to nurture democratic values.

“Are they cursed, or are we the political leaders who are cursed?” he asked. “When we have chosen to ‘fight, snatch it, grab it, and run with it,’ how can we expect our children to do it rightly and democratically when they have learned from us?”

Referencing the widely condemned political rhetoric and electoral misconduct often seen during Nigerian elections, Obi drew a straight line between the behaviour of the political class and the actions of the country’s youth.

“The society we abuse today will eventually take its toll on our children, because they will only learn by our example,” he said.

Commenting on Obi’s statement, Dr. Kemi Olatunji, a sociologist and expert in youth behaviour at the University of Lagos, said the former governor was right to point out the trickle-down effect of poor leadership ethics on societal behaviour.

“Students don’t exist in a vacuum. What they see in national politics influences what they mimic on their campuses,” she explained. “When elections in Nigeria are marred by violence and rigging, it sends a message that might is right.”

Political analyst, Jide Okonkwo, also weighed in, describing Obi’s remarks as “a sober reflection on a painful truth.”

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“Our political culture has eroded values of dialogue, tolerance, and due process. The youth have inherited a broken example, and this is playing out tragically across campuses and communities,” he said.

A Call for Value Reorientation and Responsibility

Obi, in his post, urged Nigerian leaders to take responsibility for the moral and civic decline seen across the country and to lead the charge in restoring national values.

“It is now up to us, the leaders, to learn how to restore civility, order, and core values in our society by ensuring that our character and behaviour reflect the change we seek in our society,” he wrote.

He concluded with a call to action for a collective national reset, rooted in ethics, discipline, and integrity.

“We must do better—for our students, for our children, and for our country. A New Nigeria is POssible,” Obi affirmed.

Monday’s incident at Auchi Polytechnic reportedly began as a dispute during a student election but escalated into a shooting that left two students dead and several injured. The institution and law enforcement authorities have yet to release full details, but the tragedy has reignited debate over political violence, youth radicalisation, and campus safety in Nigeria.

With voices like Obi’s raising alarm and calling for introspection, attention now turns to what reforms—both political and educational—can be implemented to curb the dangerous trends and build a safer, value-driven society.