OBI’S MESSAGE
Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has called for selfless and exemplary leadership to tackle Nigeria’s worsening challenges. In his New Year message at Abuja on Thursday, Obi lamented the nation’s deteriorating economic, political, and security situation, noting that Nigeria’s fortunes have significantly declined under the current administration. Obi painted a bleak picture of Nigeria’s state, highlighting key issues such as widespread poverty, food insecurity, energy crises, escalating national debt, and flawed electoral processes.
He stated that over 100 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty, with more than 150 million experiencing multidimensional poverty. He also pointed out that Nigeria, once Africa’s largest economy with a GDP of $574 billion in 2014, now ranks fourth on the continent, with a GDP reduced to $200 billion and a per capita income of just $1,000.
Regarding security, Obi described Nigeria as one of the most insecure and least peaceful nations in the world, with numerous communities displaced and millions living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. He cited the Global Peace Index, which ranks Nigeria 143rd out of 163 countries for peacefulness.
On food insecurity, Obi noted that the country has become one of the hungriest in the world, with middle-income earners struggling to afford basic meals and low-income earners facing dire conditions. He highlighted that the minimum wage of ₦70,000 is insufficient to buy a bag of rice, with many Nigerians relying on palliatives and charities.
Energy was another critical area of concern, as Obi lamented Nigeria’s poor power supply and frequent grid collapses. He stated that in 2024 alone, the National Grid failed 12 times in 12 months, leading to Nigeria being mockingly called a “generator country.”
Obi also criticized rampant corruption, rising national debt, and poor governance. He revealed that Nigeria’s national debt had skyrocketed from ₦15 trillion in 2015 to ₦100 trillion today, with much of it tied to non-regenerative projects.
Additionally, he expressed concerns over Nigeria’s flawed electoral processes, describing them as lacking transparency and credibility, which undermines the democratic process.
On the way forward, Obi called for decisive measures to address Nigeria’s challenges, emphasizing the need to reduce the cost of governance and redirect resources toward critical sectors such as security, health, education, and poverty alleviation. He urged the government to prioritize transparency in public procurement, tie borrowing to regenerative investments, and ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Strengthening electoral integrity and improving security through direct engagement with military formations and communities were also highlighted as crucial steps.
Additionally, Obi advocated for greater engagement with Nigerians, urging the President to visit all 36 states to better understand local challenges. He stressed the importance of improving public services by personally assessing the state of hospitals, roads, and IDP camps. These actions, he suggested, would foster trust, boost morale, and ensure that leadership decisions are in line with the nation’s most pressing needs.
