NIGERIA @65: OBI LAMENTS LEADERSHIP FAILURES, SAYS GREAT NIGERIA STILL POSSIBLE
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By Sunmisola Shodayo
The Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to derive fortitude from the resilience of the past while seeking accountability from contemporary leaders, as the nation commemorates its 65th Independence anniversary.
Obi articulated this in a press release issued on Wednesday, coinciding with the nation’s 65th Independence anniversary, titled, ‘A great Nigeria is still attainable. ’
He emphasized the promise of October 1, 1960, when Nigeria emerged from colonial subjugation to global recognition as an ascending African power.
He recollected that Time Magazine once forecasted Nigeria’s emergence as a genuine African superpower, underscoring that the nation’s founders advocated for liberty with fervor and resolve to establish a society characterized by prosperity and pride.
Obi lamented that years of ineffective leadership had derailed that aspiration, with conditions deteriorating under the current administration.
He remarked, “At present, the outlook is grim. Nigeria’s escalating debt of approximately N175 trillion—nearly 50 percent of GDP—has not been accompanied by enhancements in the productive sector.
“Nigeria has fallen to the fourth-largest economy in Africa, trailing South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria, while its democracy is increasingly labeled as ‘undemocratic. ’”
The former governor of Anambra criticized what he referred to as lavish government expenditures in the face of pervasive poverty.
He cited billions allocated for new jets, yachts, luxury automobiles, and renovations of official residences, juxtaposing these expenses with minimal budgets for healthcare, education, and scientific advancement.
“Billions are expended on extravagances that eclipse the combined budgets of teaching hospitals and ministries crucial for national development,” Obi stated.
Obi further underscored the repercussions of reckless borrowing, crippling insecurity, and widespread corruption, which have dissuaded investments and exacerbated hardship.
He warned that UNICEF and the World Food Programme project that 33 million Nigerians could experience acute hunger in 2025, while over 150 million already lack access to healthcare, education, water, and sanitation.
“Despite these obstacles, I implored Nigerians not to relinquish hope; the vision of a great and prosperous Nigeria remains vibrant.
“A society cannot endure on injustice, waste, and misgovernance. Yet, just as we triumphed over colonialism and dictatorship, so too can we surmount today’s failures. A great Nigeria is still attainable—one founded on justice, equity, productivity, and the dignity of its citizens,” he concluded.
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