Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over the state of governance in Nigeria, describing the country’s challenges as the outcome of leadership failure that has persisted for many years.
He lamented that this failure has not only been tolerated but, in many cases, celebrated by the citizens themselves.
Obi, who spoke during a public address broadcast by Symfoni TV on Sunday, August 24, 2025, noted that while many nations continue to progress and improve, Nigeria has remained stagnant due to poor leadership choices and a culture that excuses governance failures.
The former governor of Anambra State questioned why Nigeria continues to lag behind in growth and development, even as other countries advance. He said that the answer lies in the cumulative effects of decades of mismanagement, corruption, and a lack of accountability among leaders.
“Everywhere I go, people ask me, how did we get here? What happened? What is happening? The truth is, while other nations are getting better, Nigeria is moving backward,” Obi said. He explained that the country’s current reality is a direct result of accumulated leadership failures that have never been properly addressed.
He insisted that the problem should not be seen as the fault of one single individual, but rather as a collective failure. According to him, citizens also share responsibility because they allowed these failures to continue unchecked.
“No single person contributed to this problem,” Obi said. “Everybody is responsible, because while the criminality and bad governance were going on, Nigerians were busy celebrating those responsible instead of resisting them. That is why the rot has continued to deepen.”
The Labour Party flag bearer stressed that unlike other countries where people rise up against leaders who fail to deliver, Nigerians have normalized bad governance. He said that the tendency to glorify and reward politicians despite poor performance has made accountability nearly impossible.
Obi emphasized that this culture of celebration has emboldened bad leaders and weakened the push for reform. He said until Nigerians collectively reject bad governance, the cycle of failure will continue to hold the nation back.
He urged citizens to change their approach and begin demanding accountability from leaders at all levels of government. According to him, it is only through active resistance to corruption and mismanagement that the country can begin to chart a new course.
Obi expressed disappointment that Nigeria, with its vast human and natural resources, continues to perform poorly compared to other nations. He said the time has come for Nigerians to stop tolerating failure and instead take responsibility for reshaping the country’s leadership culture.
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