Peter Obi Blames Leadership Failure, Not Resource Shortage, for Nigeria’s Challenges

Peter Obi Blames Leadership Failure, Not Resource Shortage, for Nigeria’s Challenges

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has attributed Nigeria’s persistent challenges to leadership failure rather than a lack of resources.

Obi said the country’s abundant human and natural resources had not translated into improved human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity.

He made the remarks in his Independence Day address to journalists in Abuja, marking Nigeria’s 66th anniversary.

According to Obi, Nigeria’s independence anniversary should go beyond celebrations and patriotic speeches. He said it should provide an opportunity for citizens to reflect on the country’s progress since independence and assess whether it is still pursuing the vision of its founding fathers.

He identified three key questions that Nigerians must confront: “Where are we today? Where do we want to be? How do we get from where we are to where we want to be?”

Obi said the questions were particularly important given the difficulties Nigerians continue to face across several sectors despite promises made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in 2023.

He identified poverty, insecurity, hunger, unemployment, poor healthcare, maternal and infant mortality, substance abuse and the increasing number of out-of-school children among the country’s major challenges.

Obi claimed that more than 140 million Nigerians were living in poverty and severe hardship, while more than 18 million children were out of school.

He also said over 35 million young Nigerians were unemployed or underemployed and claimed that more than 40 million Nigerians could face extreme hunger by the end of 2026.

On security, the NDC candidate said terrorism, banditry and kidnapping continued to threaten lives and livelihoods across the country. He added that drug abuse and substance misuse were increasingly affecting young Nigerians.

Obi also pointed to Nigeria’s reported life expectancy of 54 years, compared with a global average of 74 years, saying the country’s social conditions required “serious, sober and honest reflection.”

He rejected the notion that Nigeria was inherently cursed, describing the country instead as “immensely endowed and blessed.”

“Our greatest problem is not a lack of resources; it is the failure to convert our enormous resources into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity,” Obi said.

He called for a critical assessment of Nigeria’s current situation and greater focus on turning the country’s resources into improved living conditions and opportunities for its citizens.