Dismantle The Crime Scene… Or Continue To Live As Refugees, Obi Tells Nigerians
The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has decried the worsening insecurity and deepening hardship across Nigeria, describing the country as a “crime scene” that urgently needs to be dismantled and rebuilt.
Obi made these remarks during the public presentation of the book “Obi: The Political Change Agent”, authored by Ike Abonyi, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Lamenting the state of the nation, Obi noted that although Nigeria is not officially at war, the conditions in which many citizens live mirror those of people displaced by conflict.
“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,” he said.
The former Anambra State Governor urged Nigerians to take an active role in dismantling what he described as a broken and dangerous system.
“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 warned.
He highlighted the misplaced priorities of those in government, contrasting extravagant spending on buildings and events with the tragic reality of preventable maternal deaths and out-of-school children.
“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,” Obi stated.
He identified a fundamental failure of leadership and value creation as the root of Nigeria’s poverty and economic stagnation.
“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.
On economic reforms, Obi expressed support for currency devaluation and subsidy removal but insisted they must be accompanied by the elimination of 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.
He also bemoaned the collapse of infrastructure and productivity in the country, citing a recent trip to Kafanchan as an example.
“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?”
Calling for a new breed of leadership, particularly in the National Assembly, Obi stressed the need to elect individuals committed to national service over personal enrichment.
“We must not allow people who want to make money from politics. If that’s your goal, you are part of the problem,” he declared. “This time, we will vote. The votes will count. We will be everywhere.”
He concluded his address by appreciating his supporters and reaffirming his commitment to driving national transformation.
Earlier, Professor Sam Amadi, former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), lauded Peter Obi as the ideal figure to lead a democratic revolution for Nigeria’s renewal.
“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 added that while Nigeria’s challenges are daunting, they are not insurmountable if the right leadership and collective effort are put in place.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
