The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi has said Nigeria requires selfless and exemplary leadership to surmount its socio-economic challenges in order to attain its full potential.
Obi explained that contrary to claims being made by the
President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, the
socio-economic situation in our nation is worsening by the day under its watch.
The former Anambra State Governor said this at a press
conference on the state of the nation in Abuja, on Thursday.
Obi said he was speaking from his position as a Nigerian who is interested in the progress of the country.
He said, “The political, economic and security situation of
our country is worsening daily, despite contrary positions and claims by the
government of improvement in different spheres of human endeavour.
“Our national challenges are visibly worsening. Our nation
and its fortunes are in clear reverse. The indices are indicative of our
decline, thus: Our national indices tell a disconcerting story Nigeria remains
one of the poverty capitals of the world, with over 100 million people living
in extreme poverty and more than 150 million in multidimensional poverty.
“The situation has deteriorated significantly over the past
18 months under the current administration.
“As a nation, we have fallen from being the largest economy
in Africa, with a GDP of $574 billion and a per capita income of over $3,500 in
2014, to now ranking fourth on the continent.
“Our current GDP is less than 50% of what it was a decade
ago, standing at approximately $200 billion, with a per capita income of barely
$1,000.
“Nigeria remains one of the most insecure and least peaceful
nations in the world, with countless communities and families displaced from
their homes and now living in IDP camps.
“According to the Global Peace Index (GPI), Nigeria ranks
143rd out of 163 countries in terms of peacefulness – an indication of a high
level of distress. Food insecurity has become our new national norm, making
Nigeria one of the hungriest countries in the world.
“Gainfully employed and middle-income Nigerians now spend
nearly their entire incomes on feeding, with some even resorting to borrowing
just to eat.
“For those living on the margins – low-income earners and
the unemployed – the situation is even more dire. The newly approved minimum
wage of N70,000 cannot afford a bag of rice or even half a bag of beans.
“As a result, many Nigerians go to bed hungry, while a
significant number now rely on palliatives and charitable support. Tragically,
this has recently led to several avoidable deaths.
“Nigeria’s ranking on the 2024 Global Hunger Index is 110th
out of 127 countries, reflecting a critical level of hunger and food insecurity
in the nation.
“We have earned the dubious distinction of being one of the
countries with the largest number of people without access to electricity.”
Obi said further, “In 2024, despite abysmal and unacceptable
power generation and distribution, the frequency of National Grid collapse
increased significantly, with the Grid failing 12 times in 12 months.
“As a result, we are now mockingly referred to as the
“generator country.” This persistent lack of adequate energy supply continues
to hinder our national development. Corruption, official malfeasance, fiscal
profligacy, and the mismanagement of public resources continue to rise
astronomically in our country, spreading across all spheres of government.
Similarly, nepotism and the disregard for the Constitution, the rule of law,
and due process have become the norm.
“Our national debt has risen astronomically, from
approximately N15 trillion in 2015 to N100 trillion today. This sharp increase
has occurred within the past 18 months under the current administration.
“Ironically, these borrowings are largely allocated to
non-regenerative programmes and projects, leaving little to no tangible
developmental assets to show for the debt, Inflation remains at an all-time
high, businesses are collapsing, and manufacturing companies are barely
surviving, further contributing to the already high unemployment rate.
“We hold periodic elections that are no longer genuine. Our
electoral processes are visibly flawed, lacking transparency and credibility.
“Although Nigeria is a democratic country, the electoral
processes fall far below acceptable standards, with the people’s votes often
not counting.
“Suggestions on the way forward. From all indications,
Nigeria urgently needs selfless and exemplary leadership across the three arms
and tiers of government.
“However, this much-needed exemplary leadership must begin
at the very top.
“Since the ultimate responsibility lies with Mr. President,
I will direct my attention to him. Mr. President, present-day Nigeria aligns
closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful words: ‘We are confronted
with the fierce urgency of now. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This
is a time for vigorous and positive actions.”
What I would have
done differently
“Because we all love Nigeria and desire its prosperity, I
would like to suggest some actions I would have personally approached
differently.
“It is time to confront our national problems boldly,
decisively, and with a sense of urgency. My suggestions are as follows:
Commence a visible and verifiable reduction in the cost of governance to allocate
much-needed resources to critical areas of development, such as security,
health, education, and poverty alleviation.
“Aggressive and visible attention should be given to
combating corruption effectively. While addressing past corrupt activities, we
must ensure proper investigations and recoveries related to missing funds or
their sources.
“The focus should be on eliminating current and future
official malfeasance through increased transparency and accountability in
public procurement and contract award processes, as well as thorough monitoring
of execution to ensure that limited resources are efficiently utilized and
applied productively.
“All future borrowing must be tied to regenerative
investments and visible, productive assets that benefit the nation.”
This, he added will ensure both productivity and the ability
to service and amortize such loans, rather than continuing the current practice
of accumulating massive debt with no tangible returns, which places undue
strain on future development revenue.
Reduce foreign
travel, focus more on Nigeria
Addressing Tinubu directly, Obi said, “Mr. President, out of
the approximately 580 days you have been in office, it is reported that you
have spent over 30%, or around 180 days, on more than 30 publicly recorded
overseas trips.
“My appeal is that you dedicate at least 20% of 2025 –
roughly 72 days – to visit each of Nigeria’s 36 states for two days each.
“As President, such visits would give you the opportunity to
better understand the dire economic and security situations across the country.
“Furthermore, it is time for you to visit our national
hospitals. Consider, for example, that your next medical examination be
conducted at one of our National Hospitals or Regional Federal Medical Centres,
such as the FMC in Sokoto or Birnin Kebbi or Calabar or Umuahia or Akure, among
others.
“This will allow you to assess the state of healthcare
facilities available to Nigerians. It will also help you understand the
condition of our hospitals and clinics, enabling you to make informed decisions
on how to upgrade and make them efficient.
“Endeavour to travel by road to observe the condition of
most highways. You can take short trips, for example, from Calabar in Cross
River State to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, a distance of less than 100 km, or from
Benin in Edo State to Warri in Delta State.
“I recall taking President Olusegun Obasanjo on a trip from
Awka to Onitsha on a federal highway when I was the Governor of Anambra State.
“That journey prompted him to immediately approve the
reconstruction of parts of the road by the Anambra State government, with
subsequent reimbursement by the federal government.
“Such actions are immensely valuable. Make both impromptu
and planned visits to our tertiary institutions, where our children and future
leaders are being trained, are essential to familiarize yourself with the
available infrastructure, facilities, and amenities.”
According to Obi, such visits will provide valuable insight
into whether the resources of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) are
being utilized optimally and what is needed to sustain the education system.
He recalled President Shagari visiting the University of
Nigeria, Nsukka, when he (Obi) was a student.
Obi quoted Shagari as telling students that,”I have seen the
facilities myself, and I assure you of my intervention.”
He remembered vividly that Institutional facilities improved
significantly after this visit because the President kept his promise.
Visit troops in their theatre of operations
Obi also advised Tinubu to “As Commander-in-Chief, visit our
military formations and security agencies, especially during their field
operations, and provide them with morale-boosting assurances and support for
operational efficiency.
“Reiterate that they and their families will always be taken
care of.Mr. President, many Nigerians are ‘refugees’ and ‘exiles’ in their own
country.
“Visit various IDP camps and assure these Nigerians that
they will soon return to their communities, and that you are working hard to
restore peace and normalcy to the country. Nigeria is not a war-torn nation.
“The proliferation of IDP camps is a troubling sign. As
President, you are no longer the Governor of Lagos State; therefore, consider
spending your holidays in different parts of the country.
“Let your next Sallah, Easter, and Christmas holidays be
spent in places like Adamawa, Sokoto, Jos, Akure, Yenagoa, or Abakaliki, among
others.
“The single most challenging test you face is ensuring that
future elections are credible and truly reflect the will of the people.
Speak more directly
to Nigerians
“Finally, Mr. President, Nigerians need to hear directly
from you, not through your proxies. Quarterly updates on what you are doing to
improve the situation in Nigeria is crucial.God bless the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.”
Recall that the LP candidate and his PDP counterpart, former
Vice President Atiku Abubakar lost the 2023 presidential election to APC’s
Tinubu.
Tinubu won in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, and also secured
enough votes in several other states to claim the highest number of votes —
8,794,726, almost two million votes more than his closest rival — Atiku
Abubakar of the PDP.
Atiku, who has run for the presidential seat a record six
times, got 6,984,520 votes, while Obi, a first-time contestant, secured an
unprecedented 6,101,533. NNPP’s Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor,
finished fourth, claiming victory in his state — Kano. He secured 1,496,687
votes.
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When a leader addresses issues, you can always know the difference. Not 7up after all.
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