Reported by: Ijeoma G. | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country’s future, declaring that “a great Nigeria is still possible” despite current economic and political challenges.
In a statement issued on the occasion of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, Obi reflected on the country’s history, from the optimism of 1960 to the disappointments that followed, and outlined what he described as the urgent need for competent, compassionate, and people-centered leadership.
He recalled that at independence, Nigeria was celebrated globally as an emerging power with enormous potential, with even international publications such as Time Magazine predicting the country’s rise as Africa’s superpower. The founding fathers, he said, fought with confidence and passion to build a prosperous nation.
Obi lamented that successive leadership failures derailed those aspirations, leaving the country trapped in poverty, corruption, and insecurity. He particularly blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for worsening the situation, noting that under its leadership, “Nigeria has been greatly diminished.”
According to him, Nigeria’s total debt, which stood at about N2.5 trillion by 2007—only 10 percent of GDP after President Olusegun Obasanjo secured debt forgiveness—has now ballooned to about N175 trillion, nearly 50 percent of GDP, with little or no improvement in productive sectors to show for it. He added that Nigeria has fallen to the fourth-largest economy in Africa, behind South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria, while its democracy is increasingly being described as “undemocratic.”
Obi decried the rising poverty levels, pointing out that over 15 million Nigerians had been pushed into acute poverty within one year, while more than 150 million citizens lack access to basic necessities such as healthcare, education, water, and sanitation. He accused the government of pursuing “brutal revenue-driven policies” while indulging in wasteful spending.
He cited as examples billions spent on luxury items including new presidential jets and cars, and the N25 billion renovation of the Vice President’s residence, which he contrasted with the paltry allocations to healthcare and education. “Over N10 billion was allocated for car parks and canteens for the National Assembly—more than the capital budget of the Ministry of Science and Technology,” Obi stated.
Beyond economic mismanagement, Obi highlighted insecurity as another major failure. Nigerians, he said, now live in fear of travelling by road, with kidnapping rampant and billions lost to ransom payments. “Incompetence in security management has turned our country into one of the most terrorised and unsafe nations in the world,” he declared.
Despite the grim picture, Obi insisted that Nigeria’s potential for greatness is undiminished. He urged Nigerians to draw inspiration from countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, which transformed their economies through disciplined leadership and sound policies. For Nigeria, he stressed, the path forward must include prudent economic management, massive investment in human capital, strengthening the rule of law, and developing infrastructure.
“The current administration’s failures must not lead us to despair,” Obi said. “They should instead fuel our determination to rebuild. Nigeria has the resources, talent, and resilience to become an industrialised nation in record time. With the right leadership, we can defeat terrorism, restore security, and guarantee Nigerians safe communities where enterprise and social life can thrive.”
Calling for unity among political leaders, he urged them to reject corruption, bigotry, and division, and instead embrace competence, compassion, and commitment to national progress. He added that the “old politics” of self-enrichment must end, and be replaced with a new politics focused on shared prosperity.
Obi concluded his statement with a message of optimism: “Against all odds, we will return Nigeria to the path of prosperity and justice. We will not relent. We will not be discouraged. The mission is clear: Nigeria will rise again. A new Nigeria is possible.”
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