Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has slammed Peter Obi, former Anambra governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, accusing him of lacking the moral standing to criticize Nigeria’s poverty situation.
Sanwo-Olu’s sharp rebuke followed Obi’s lecture at Johns Hopkins University, where Obi blamed poor leadership for Nigeria’s rising poverty rates.
In response, Sanwo-Olu cited statistics showing that under Obi’s tenure, Anambra’s poverty rate allegedly climbed from 41.4% to 53.7%, before improving under his successor.
He further accused Obi of failing to invest in education, healthcare, and small businesses during his time as governor, contrasting it with President Bola Tinubu’s current achievements in expanding schools, student loans, and SME funding.
Calling for greater patriotism, Sanwo-Olu criticized Obi for “de-marketing Nigeria” internationally and insisted that national leaders should project a positive image of the country, regardless of political affiliation.
The clash underscores the deepening rivalry between key political figures over who holds the blueprint for Nigeria’s future prosperity.
