Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of reducing what was once a promising nation at independence to its current struggling state.
Speaking at a press conference on the state of the nation in Abuja on Wednesday, Obi recalled how Nigeria overcame military rule in 1999 and set out on a renewed democratic journey that helped build Africa’s largest economy and strengthened institutions. He, however, said that “over the last decade, under the APC’s incompetent, divisive, and corrupt leadership, Nigeria has been greatly diminished.”
The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate painted what he described as a “bleak picture,” noting that despite Nigeria’s promise at independence, current policies have pushed over 15 million people into poverty in just one year, while the government insists on heavy taxation with little return for citizens. He added that the nation’s total debt now stands at about ₦175 trillion, nearly 50 percent of GDP, yet productive sectors remain stagnant.
On insecurity, Obi decried what he termed reckless borrowing, wasteful spending on luxuries like new jets and cars, and poor leadership that has left Nigerians unsafe, with billions paid in ransoms. He insisted that Nigeria ranks among the lowest globally in human development indicators as millions lack access to basic services like healthcare, water, and sanitation.
Despite the grim outlook, Obi expressed hope that Nigeria can be rebuilt through competent and people-centred leadership, citing nations like Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India as examples. He said Nigeria has the resources and talent to industrialize quickly if terrorism is defeated and security restored. According to him, the “old politics must end” to give way to a “new politics of prosperity” for all.
President Bola Tinubu, however, in his Independence Day broadcast, assured Nigerians that his administration’s reforms are already yielding results, stressing that “the worst is over” and that Nigeria has “finally turned the corner.”
What you should know
Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, remains one of the most vocal critics of the APC-led government.
His latest comments highlight a sharp contrast between his gloomy assessment of the nation’s state and President Tinubu’s message of optimism during Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary.
