Peter Obi Blasts Nigeria’s Leadership for Rising Poverty and Economic Decline
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has attributed Nigeria’s escalating poverty rate to the country’s leadership inadequacies in tackling economic challenges. During his keynote address at the 16th Annual Founder’s Day and 20th Anniversary celebrations of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Obi emphasized that while other nations have seen significant growth over the last decade, Nigeria’s situation has worsened due to ineffective governance.
Obi argued that poor leadership, characterized by incompetence and a lack of empathy, has been a major driver of the country’s economic decline. He drew comparisons between Nigeria and other nations with similar demographic profiles, noting that countries like Indonesia and India have made considerable strides in both GDP and per capita income, while Nigeria’s economy has contracted.
In 2014, Obi highlighted, Indonesia’s GDP was $890 billion with a per capita income of $3,475, while India’s GDP was $2.39 trillion and a per capita income of $1,560. In contrast, Nigeria’s GDP stood at $574 billion with a per capita income of $3,200. Fast forward to 2024, and Indonesia’s GDP surged to $1.445 trillion, India’s to $3.89 trillion, but Nigeria’s GDP has plummeted to $220 billion with a per capita income of just $1,000. Additionally, while life expectancy in these countries exceeds 65 years, Nigeria’s life expectancy remains at just 53 years.
Obi underscored that for any nation to thrive, its leadership must embody competence, capacity, empathy, and the ability to listen to its citizens’ needs. He also criticized the current administration under President Bola Tinubu for exacerbating poverty and encouraging the “Japa syndrome,” a growing trend of Nigerians leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad.
At the event, AUN’s founder, Atiku Abubakar, celebrated the institution’s 20-year achievements while acknowledging that there is still much work to be done to further strengthen its position. He urged the university’s Board of Trustees to explore diverse funding options, including alumni engagement, government collaborations, and partnerships with NGOs, in order to ensure its continued growth and sustainability.
AUN President DeWayne Frazier highlighted the university’s significant impact, noting that its graduates have excelled in global firms like Google and Silicon Valley, while others have launched successful businesses in Nigeria and beyond.
