Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, insisting that with proper leadership and resource management, the nation can turn around within a decade and return to the path of sustainable growth.
Speaking during a public engagement, Obi highlighted his experience as both a businessman and a public servant, stressing that he understands what it takes to manage resources effectively.
“We can make this country better. It can work,” Obi declared. “I’m a private businessman. You can check my background as a trader. I’ve been in the corporate world. I’ve been a direct chairman and director of several quoted companies in Nigeria. I’ve been a governor. And I can tell you I’ve managed resources and I know that this country, if properly manned, can turn around in 10 years and be on the path of growth.”
According to Obi, Nigeria is not lacking in human or natural resources. The challenge, he argued, lies in how those resources are allocated and the culture of waste that has defined governance for decades.
“It’s a great country. It has all it takes,” he said. “All we need is to invest our resources in the right places. Cut the cost and waste that is all over the place.”
The former Anambra State governor emphasized that the nation’s economic woes are not irreversible but require a shift from reckless spending to targeted investment in sectors that can generate productivity and growth. He pointed to infrastructure, education, healthcare, and manufacturing as critical areas where funds must be channeled.
“When you invest resources where they matter, you create jobs, you empower people, and you grow the economy. But what we have done for years is throw money into consumption instead of production,” Obi noted.
He also underscored the need for accountability in government spending, warning that without fiscal discipline, Nigeria will remain trapped in poverty and debt. “The problem of Nigeria is not that we don’t have money. It is that we waste what we have. We live in excess when we should be cutting costs,” he said.
Obi, who has built a reputation for his frugality and emphasis on fiscal prudence, argued that effective leadership must prioritize the welfare of citizens over the luxuries of public office. “Leadership is about service, not about sharing the nation’s wealth among a few. If we stop the waste, we will have enough to invest in our future,” he stated.
He expressed strong belief that Nigeria can emulate countries that have successfully transitioned from poverty to prosperity by enforcing discipline and long-term planning. “This country can be rebuilt. Others have done it. If we make the right choices today, in less than 10 years we will see the difference,” Obi said.
The former presidential candidate concluded by urging Nigerians to demand accountability and good governance, saying the nation’s transformation lies in the hands of its people and their willingness to insist on leaders who prioritize the common good.
