The National Leader of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has said Nigerians are among the hungriest and poorest people in the world and advised President Bola Tinubu to stop downplaying the hardship in the country.
Obi who was reacting to Tinubu’s statement that hardship is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, said the president should accept the fact that Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world.
The former presidential candidate in a statement on his X handle on Friday, noted that “The problems facing Nigeria are well-known to all Nigerians.
“We are the poverty capital of the world, among the most insecure people on earth, among the hungriest, have poor education quality and the highest number of out-of-school children, high infant mortality, corruption, unemployment, the highest income gap between the poor and the rich, high corruption perception index, infrastructure and healthcare challenges, and more.”
He described it as disheartening that those who were hired to address the problems, tried to make excuses.
Obi argued that instead of acknowledging that other countries face similar challenges, Nigerians need to hear a thorough plan of action to tackle the problem, from their leaders.
“We require concrete solutions and a clear vision to address these issues, not comparisons that downplay our circumstances,” he said and urged those in leadership positions to offer tangible solutions, not mere reminders that others face similar challenges.
“We need a comprehensive approach to tackle our specific challenges, not generalisations that dismiss our experiences,” Obi demanded, noting that, “A true leader provides direction, guidance, solutions, and reassurance in times of crisis.
“This is the hallmark of visionary leadership and a trait of nations that are making progress and advancing their development. They don’t simply state the obvious but offer a roadmap for overcoming obstacles.
“Just like a pilot, who doesn’t just announce turbulence; they assure passengers that they will do everything possible to ensure a safe journey.
“Only then can we begin to trust that our country is in capable hands, working towards a brighter future for all Nigerians.”