Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to draw inspiration from the resilience of the past while demandingaccountability from today’s leaders, as the country marks its 65th Independence anniversary.
In a press statement titled “A Great Nigeria is Still Possible” issued on Wednesday, Obi reflected on October 1, 1960, when Nigeria gained independence from colonial rule and was hailed as an emerging African power. He noted that Time Magazine once predicted Nigeria’s rise as a superpower, emphasizing the founding fathers’ dedication to building a prosperous nation.
Obi lamented that decades of poor leadership had derailed this vision, with the situation worsening under the current administration. “Today, the picture is bleak. Nigeria’s mounting debt of about N175 trillion—nearly 50 percent of GDP—exists without corresponding growth in the productive sector. Nigeria has slipped to the fourth-largest economy in Africa, behind South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria, while its democracy is increasingly described as ‘undemocratic,’” he said.
The former Anambra governor criticised excessive government spending on luxury items, including jets, yachts, and renovations of official residences, while essential sectors such as healthcare, education, and science remain underfunded. “Billions are spent on luxuries that outweigh the combined budgets of teaching hospitals and ministries essential for national growth,” Obi said.
He further highlighted the impact of reckless borrowing, rising insecurity, and widespread corruption, which have deterred investment and deepened hardship. Obi noted that UNICEF and the World Food Programme project 33 million Nigerians could face acute hunger in 2025, while over 150 million already lack access to healthcare, education, water, and sanitation.
“Despite these challenges, I urge Nigerians not to lose hope; the vision of a great and prosperous Nigeria remains alive. A society cannot survive on injustice, waste, and misrule. Yet, just as we overcame colonialism and dictatorship, so too can we overcome today’s failures. A great Nigeria is still possible—one built on justice, fairness, productivity, and the dignity of its citizens,” he concluded.