The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has decried the alarming state of hardship and insecurity in Nigeria, likening the country to a “crime scene” despite not being officially at war.
Speaking during an event in Abuja on Tuesday, June 10, Obi expressed concern that millions of Nigerians are living like refugees both within and outside the country due to persistent insecurity and economic decline.
“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,” Obi lamented.
The former Anambra State governor warned that the current system is unsustainable and could lead to a national catastrophe if not addressed urgently.
“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.
Obi criticized the government for misplaced priorities, noting that while billions are spent on renovating public offices and hosting lavish events, critical sectors such as healthcare and education remain neglected.
“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,” he added.
On economic challenges, Obi emphasized that poverty in Nigeria is a result of poor leadership and a lack of value creation in governance and business.
“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 noted.
Addressing the issue of the naira’s devaluation and fuel subsidy removal, Obi maintained that corruption must first be eliminated to stabilize the economy.
“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.
