In a recent interview on News Central TV FROM 22:44, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 Nigerian general elections, offered a stark assessment of the country’s political landscape. Obi, known for his outspoken views, did not shy away from including himself in his critique of Nigerian politicians.
The former governor of Anambra State argued that the overwhelming majority of politicians in Nigeria share similar characteristics, leaving little room for meaningful change. “When I said we politicians are the problem, I didn’t exclude myself. In Nigeria, 95 percent of the politicians are the same. So the remaining 5 percent is very negligible,” Obi stated.
Reflecting on his time in office, Obi shared an anecdote that highlighted the unconventional nature of his approach to governance. He recalled being questioned about his fiscal conservatism, particularly his decision to leave office with substantial funds unspent. According to Obi, he was asked, “You wasted energy and time, and you save money. And when you are leaving government, you left huge amount of money. So tell me which price did you get from doing that.”
In perhaps his most provocative statement of the interview, Obi characterized the current state of Nigeria in stark terms. “It is a general thing that we have all agreed. That is why I said this is a criminal entity hijacked by criminals,” he declared. The former presidential candidate didn’t stop at diagnosis, however. He also offered his view on the necessary remedy, asserting, “The only way it can work is to dismantle it.”
Obi’s comments paint a grim picture of Nigeria’s political system and suggest that he believes fundamental, systemic change is required to address the country’s challenges. His willingness to include himself in his critique of politicians adds a layer of credibility to his statements, though it remains to be seen how his words will be received by the Nigerian public and his fellow politicians….S££–MOR£