Peter Obi has described Nigeria as a nation in deep crisis, saying citizens are suffering as though the country were at war, even though no official conflict exists.
Speaking at the launch of Obi: The Political Change Agent, a book by journalist Ike Abonyi in Abuja on Tuesday, June 10, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate painted a grim picture of insecurity, poverty, and poor leadership.
“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.
He called on citizens to work together to rebuild the country, warning that the current system is unsustainable and dangerously close to collapse.
“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 said.
Obi criticised government spending priorities, pointing to a system where cosmetic renovations and parties continue while critical issues like maternal mortality and education are neglected.
“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 both public and private leaders are responsible for deepening poverty by hoarding wealth instead of creating value.
“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,” he said.
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While supporting subsidy and currency policy reforms, Obi emphasised that such changes should come only after tackling 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.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s broken infrastructure, Obi described a recent trip to Kafanchan where he saw no trucks transporting goods, a sign, he said, of an economy that no longer functions.
“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 ended by urging voters to reject politicians motivated by personal gain and instead support leaders committed to genuine service.
“We must not allow people who want to make money from politics. If that’s your goal, you are part of the problem,” he said. “This time, we will vote. The votes will count. We will be everywhere.”
Earlier, Professor Sam Amadi, former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, described Obi as the type of leader Nigeria needs for a democratic turnaround.
“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 acknowledged that while the road ahead is tough, Nigeria’s challenges are not insurmountable, if the right kind of leadership takes charge.