On the occasion of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, Labour Party presidential candidate and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, delivered a searing critique of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of steering the nation into decline through “incompetent and divisive leadership.”
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Obi reflected on the country’s journey since its democratic rebirth in 1999, lamenting the reversal of the progress once made.
“In 1999, we broke free from the shackles of military dictatorship and embraced democracy—a path that led us to become Africa’s largest economy,” Obi recalled.
“But in just over a decade under APC rule, we’ve watched that promise erode. Today, our country is diminished in every sense—economically, socially, and morally.”
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According to Obi, Nigeria’s early promise at independence in 1960 was to emerge not just as a continental giant, but a global force. However, he argues that this vision has been sabotaged by poor leadership and economic mismanagement.
“Our total debt has ballooned to nearly ₦175 trillion—almost half of our GDP,” he warned. “Yet there’s no corresponding growth in infrastructure or productivity. We’ve slipped to the fourth-largest economy in Africa, behind South Africa, Egypt, and even Algeria.”
He also condemned the administration’s fiscal policies, claiming they punish ordinary citizens while sparing the elite. “In the first year of this government alone, over 15 million Nigerians were pushed into poverty,” Obi noted.
“Meanwhile, billions are being earmarked for yachts, presidential jets, and luxury vehicles—amounts that exceed what is allocated for primary healthcare for the entire nation.”
The former governor did not mince words about the insecurity plaguing the country either. “Billions of naira have been paid in ransom, yet citizens remain unsafe,” he said. “What we are witnessing is a government that lacks vision and leadership.”
Obi contended that the APC’s revenue-driven governance strategy—taxing small businesses and everyday Nigerians while offering little in return—has worsened the country’s human development indicators.
“Over 150 million Nigerians still lack access to basic needs like healthcare, clean water, and education,” he said. “This is not governance; it’s exploitation.”
Despite his criticism, Obi expressed hope that Nigeria can still turn the tide. He cited examples of other developing nations—such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India—that overcame similar challenges through focused, inclusive leadership.
“We must reject the politics that keeps a few in luxury while the masses starve,” he urged.
“The old politics must end. It is time for a new politics—one that delivers prosperity and justice for all.”
President Bola Tinubu, in his Independence Day address, painted a more optimistic picture, declaring that “the worst is over” and that his administration’s reforms have set Nigeria on a new course.
But for Obi, optimism alone is not enough.
“We can’t afford to celebrate when our people are barely surviving. The time has come to rebuild this nation—not with slogans, but with sincerity, competence, and compassion,” he concluded.