Obi Slams APC Leadership, Says Nigeria Now ‘Greatly Diminished’

Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of running Nigeria into decline, saying that the party has diminished what was once a promising nation at independence.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday as Nigeria marked its 65th independence anniversary, Obi painted a grim picture of the state of the nation, contrasting the country’s current struggles with the optimism that accompanied the restoration of democracy in 1999.

“In 1999, we overcame military dictatorship and restored democracy, beginning a renewed journey toward prosperity, freedom, and justice. That journey helped us build Africa’s largest economy and strengthen democratic institutions,” he said. “But over the last decade, under the APC’s incompetent, divisive, and corrupt leadership, Nigeria has been greatly diminished.”

According to him, Nigeria, once positioned as Africa’s giant, now ranks behind South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria in terms of economic strength. He argued that the administration’s policies had worsened poverty levels, pushing more than 15 million Nigerians into hardship in just one year while demanding higher taxes from citizens already struggling to survive.

‘Bleak Picture Of The Nation’

Obi stressed that the optimism of 1960, when Nigeria gained independence, has been replaced by despair due to reckless governance. He noted that the country’s total debt had ballooned to about ₦175 trillion, nearly half of its GDP, without translating into improvements in productive sectors or infrastructure.

“Today, the picture is bleak. Our democracy is now described as undemocratic, and our economy, once Africa’s largest, has fallen behind three other nations. More than 150 million Nigerians lack access to healthcare, education, water, and sanitation. This number grows daily under a government that prioritises revenue over people,” he declared.

The former governor accused the APC administration of heavy taxation while indulging in extravagance, pointing to billions spent on presidential jets, luxury vehicles, and yachts. According to him, such spending highlights the gap between leaders and the people they govern. “This is a government where leaders feast while the masses starve,” Obi said, stressing that the disconnect has widened distrust between the people and their rulers.

He also criticized the government’s management of security, noting that citizens are increasingly unsafe across the country. “Billions have been paid as ransom, and Nigerians live with fear daily. There is no clear leadership direction in tackling insecurity,” he added.

‘Old Politics Must End’

Despite his sharp criticisms, Obi expressed optimism that Nigeria could overcome its challenges with the right leadership. He urged citizens not to despair but to see the failures of the current system as motivation to demand better governance. “The current administration’s failures must not lead us to despair. They should instead fuel our determination to rebuild. Nigeria has the resources, talent, and resilience to become an industrialised nation in record time,” he said.

Obi drew parallels with countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India, which have recorded economic transformations through deliberate and people-focused policies. He argued that with competent and compassionate leadership, Nigeria could defeat terrorism, restore security, and guarantee communities where enterprise and social life thrive.

“We must end a system where politics enriches a few while impoverishing the many. Old politics must end, and a new politics of prosperity for all must begin,” he stated.

President Bola Tinubu, in his own Independence Day broadcast, offered a more hopeful outlook. He assured Nigerians that with ongoing reforms, the worst of the nation’s economic pains was over and that the country had “turned the corner.”

For Obi, however, the moment remains one for sober reflection rather than celebration. He insisted that independence will only be meaningful when leaders see power as a responsibility to serve the people, not as a prize for personal gain.