Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, stated that Nigeria is currently in a worse state compared to the late ’80s and early ’90s.
Obi shared his thoughts on X after attending the launch of ‘A Journey in Service’, an autobiography by Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), Nigeria’s military president from 1985 to 1993, on Thursday, February 20, in Abuja.
He praised IBB for his contributions to Nigeria’s economy, particularly in the financial sector. Obi acknowledged that under IBB’s leadership, Nigeria saw substantial growth, with a focus on entrepreneurship and private sector development. Obi wrote, “IBB’s contributions to Nigeria’s economy and his strong support for entrepreneurship and private sector growth remain immeasurable.”
He also highlighted that documenting such experiences allows Nigerians to learn from past leaders. “I look forward to reading this book, which undoubtedly holds valuable lessons,” he added.
Obi highlighted two key points from the event:
- Nigeria’s Decline: Reflecting on IBB’s statement, “Rien n’a changé” (Nothing much has changed), Obi said Nigeria is worse off today than during IBB’s era. He pointed out that while countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana have moved from low to medium or high Human Development Index (HDI) levels since IBB’s time, Nigeria remains stagnant or has declined.
- Ghana’s Democracy: Obi noted IBB’s mention of Ghana’s democratic stability over the past 30 years, where leadership transitions genuinely reflect the people’s votes. In contrast, Nigeria often sees electoral outcomes that fail to represent the people’s will.
Obi also emphasized IBB’s acknowledgment that Chief MKO Abiola won the June 12 election, a significant step towards national healing and unity.
He concluded, “A New Nigeria is POssible!”
