In a recent interview on Symfoni TV, Oladimeji Fabiyi spoke during a live political discussion where he assessed the governance record of former state leaders and their developmental priorities while in office.
During the interview from 30:01, Fabiyi stated, “Obi didn’t recklessly collect debt; he built schools, roads, and attracted investment to Anambra.” He made the remark while defending the economic management approach adopted by some past governors in Nigeria.
He emphasized that public debt, when properly managed and directed toward capital projects, should not automatically be viewed as mismanagement, but rather evaluated based on what the borrowed funds were used for and the long-term impact on development.
Fabiyi explained that Peter Obi, during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, focused heavily on infrastructure development, education, and improving the investment climate of the state, which he said contributed to increased investor confidence at the time.
According to him, the administration prioritized building schools, upgrading road networks, and creating an enabling environment for private sector participation, which he described as key indicators of responsible governance.
He further argued that political debates in Nigeria often overlook the context of economic decisions made by leaders, especially when evaluating debt profiles without considering what the funds were used to achieve.
Fabiyi maintained that leadership should be assessed based on both fiscal responsibility and developmental outcomes, noting that some administrations may appear heavily scrutinized for borrowing but still deliver significant infrastructure and institutional improvements.
He added that such discussions are important as Nigerians continue to evaluate past and present leaders ahead of the 2027 political cycle, where governance records are expected to play a major role in shaping voter decisions.
Fabiyi concluded by urging citizens to adopt a more balanced and evidence-based approach when assessing political leaders, stressing that development impact should remain the central measure of performance in public office…Read_More…