The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has described Nigeria as a “crime scene” plagued by widespread insecurity, economic hardship, and leadership failure. He made the remark on Tuesday in Abuja during the public presentation of a book titled ‘Obi: The Political Change Agent’.
In a somber reflection on the state of the nation, Obi decried the living conditions of many Nigerians, likening their plight to that of refugees despite the country not being at war.
“Today in Nigeria, we’re not officially at war, yet Nigerians are living in IDP camps in their own country. Nigerians are refugees in Chad, in Cameroon. And the only reason is because we don’t have a government that cares for them,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor warned that the current state of governance is unsustainable and could lead to national collapse if not urgently addressed.
“Some people are dancing while the ship is sinking. When it finally goes down, it will consume everyone rich or poor. I’ve seen this before in places like Beirut and Afghanistan. Crisis does not discriminate,” he cautioned.
Obi sharply criticized the country’s misplaced priorities, highlighting a disturbing contradiction between government extravagance and social decay.
“We use public resources to paint offices and build mansions, while women die trying to give birth. According to a recent report, one woman dies every seven minutes in Nigeria during childbirth. That’s what we want to dismantle,” he stated.
He argued that many of the country’s problems stem from the failure of leadership to focus on value creation and sustainable development.
“Our leaders in government and business are producing poverty. When people hoard money without creating value, they are fueling poverty. A functional economy must be built on the exchange of real value,” Obi said.
While supporting currency devaluation and subsidy removal, Obi emphasized that such economic measures must be preceded by the elimination of systemic corruption.
“Yes, I support removing fuel subsidy, but only after removing the criminality in the system. If we build confidence in the market and clean up corruption, the naira will stabilize. It’s happening in Ghana and Angola, why not here?” he asked.
Sharing his recent experience, Obi lamented the collapse of infrastructure and economic productivity.
“I was in Kafanchan recently. I didn’t see a single trailer transporting goods. Colonial masters built railways to move goods — cotton, granite, ginger. Today, they’re gone. We have no trains, no trailers, nothing. And we wonder why people are hungry?” he said.
Calling for a reorientation of Nigeria’s political culture, Obi urged voters to reject politicians who treat public office as a path to wealth.
“We must not allow people who want to make money from politics. If that’s your goal, you are part of the problem,” he declared. “This time, we will vote. The votes will count. We will be everywhere.”
Earlier at the event, Professor Sam Amadi, former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), praised Obi’s leadership credentials, describing him as the ideal figure to lead a democratic transformation in Nigeria.
“A successful revolution is defined by democratic civilization and democratic diplomacy. Peter Obi possesses the profile, pedigree, personality, and passion to lead this change,” Amadi said.
He expressed hope that with the right leadership, collective sacrifice, and public commitment, Nigeria’s challenges could be overcome.
Obi concluded by thanking supporters and urging them to remain steadfast in the push for national transformation.
