BY GODWIN OBI
Former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has declared that Nigeria has been “greatly diminished” under the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of plunging the nation into poverty, insecurity, and hopelessness.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, Obi lamented that what began in 1960 as a nation with boundless promise has now been crippled by “incompetent, divisive, and corrupt leadership.”
“In 1999, we overcame military dictatorship and restored democracy, beginning a renewed journey toward prosperity, freedom, and justice. That journey helped us build Africa’s largest economy and strengthen democratic institutions. But over the last decade, under the APC’s leadership, Nigeria has been greatly diminished,” Obi declared.
‘Bleak Picture of a Broken Nation’
Obi painted a grim portrait of Nigeria’s economic decline, pointing to staggering debt, collapsing industries, and worsening human development indices.
- He warned that over 15 million Nigerians were pushed into poverty in just one year of APC rule.
- Nigeria’s debt profile, he noted, has ballooned to ₦175 trillion—nearly half of GDP, yet with no corresponding growth in productive sectors.
- Once Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria has now slipped to fourth place, behind South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria.
“Our democracy is now described as undemocratic. Citizens are taxed heavily, yet they benefit little or nothing in return,” he said.
On Insecurity and Extravagance
Obi blasted the APC government for prioritising luxury over citizens’ welfare.
“In one year, they pushed 15 million Nigerians into poverty. Today, more than 150 million Nigerians lack access to healthcare, education, water, and sanitation. While the people starve, the government spends billions on jets, yachts, and luxury cars—more than the entire primary healthcare budget for 2024,” Obi said.
He added that billions of naira had been paid in ransom to kidnappers, while ordinary Nigerians remain unsafe and hopeless.
‘The Old Politics Must End’
Despite the grim situation, Obi expressed optimism that Nigeria can bounce back with competent and compassionate leadership.
“We must end a system where leaders feast while the people starve, where politics enriches a few and impoverishes the many. Nigeria has the resources, talent, and resilience to industrialise in record time. With the right leadership, terrorism can be defeated, security restored, and prosperity assured,” he said.
Obi urged Nigerians to embrace a “new politics of prosperity” and reject the “old politics of waste and corruption.”
Meanwhile, in his Independence Day broadcast, President Bola Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration’s reforms were yielding results, insisting that “the worst is over” and that Nigeria had “finally turned the corner.”
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