The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has berated President Bola Tinubu’s recent claim that Nigerians are not the only ones facing poverty.
Obi took to the social media platform, X, to express his disappointment with the President’s remarks, which he believes downplay the severity of Nigeria’s challenges.
President Tinubu had recently stated that Nigerians are not alone in facing poverty. He went on to suggest that eliminating banditry and terrorism would allow farmers to return to their farms and help address the issues.
The President made the comment in Lagos on Monday when he received a delegation from the National Assembly who came to felicitate with him on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.
Reacting, Obi said there are numerous struggles facing Nigeria, including poverty, insecurity, hunger, poor education, high infant mortality, corruption, unemployment, and inadequate infrastructure and healthcare. He said there is need for concrete solutions and a clear vision to address these issues, rather than mere comparisons with other countries.
He said, “The problems facing Nigeria are well-known to all Nigerians.
“We are the poverty capital of the world, among the most insecure people on earth, among the hungriest, have poor education quality and the highest number of out-of-school children, high infant mortality, corruption, unemployment, the highest income gap between the poor and the rich, high corruption perception index, infrastructure and healthcare challenges, and more.
“It is disheartening to hear those in charge, who were hired to address our problems, make statements like “we are not the only ones struggling with poverty and hunger.” Instead of merely acknowledging that other countries face similar challenges, we need to hear a thorough plan of action to tackle our unique struggles. We require concrete solutions and a clear vision to address these issues, not comparisons that downplay our circumstances. I urge those in leadership positions to offer tangible solutions, not mere reminders that others face similar challenges. We need a comprehensive approach to tackle our specific challenges, not generalizations that dismiss our experiences. A true leader provides direction, guidance, solutions, and reassurance in times of crisis.
“This is the hallmark of visionary leadership and a trait of nations that are making progress and advancing their development. They don’t simply state the obvious but offer a roadmap for overcoming obstacles.
“Just like a pilot, who doesn’t just announce turbulence; they assure passengers that they will do everything possible to ensure a safe journey. Only then can we begin to trust that our country is in capable hands, working towards a brighter future for all Nigerians.”
