Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has likened the country to a “crime scene” where citizens are forced to live in fear and desperation, akin to internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday during the launch of Obi: The Political Change Agent, A Book Presentation and Renaissance of the Obidient Movement, authored by journalist Ike Abonyi, Obi painted a grim picture of a nation on the brink.
“All of us must work hard to dismantle this crime scene called a country because there is no way we will be able to survive with this. It is impossible,” Obi lamented.
The former Anambra State governor highlighted the plight of millions of Nigerians who, despite not being in a formal war, live like refugees within their own borders or in neighboring countries such as Chad and Cameroon. He attributed this dire situation to the government’s failure to prioritize the welfare of its citizens.
Obi decried the indifference of Nigeria’s political elite, accusing them of “dancing while the ship is sinking.”
According to him, the ongoing collapse of the nation will ultimately spare no one, irrespective of social or economic status.
“I have seen this before in places like Beirut and Afghanistan,” he said, warning that Nigeria risks following the path of these war-torn countries if urgent action is not taken.
The former governor criticized the federal government for fostering a climate of insecurity, poverty, and widespread suffering. He accused leaders of amassing wealth they do not need instead of sacrificing for peace and stability.
Obi condemned Nigeria’s broken economic system, which he said has rendered millions of children out of school and denied many citizens access to basic services. He cited corruption as a key factor in the nation’s struggles, saying it has devalued the naira and turned it into a tool for enriching a privileged few without creating any tangible value.
He also pointed to the failure of past and present governments to preserve and build upon colonial-era infrastructure, such as railways, as a significant contributor to the decline of the production sector. Empty roads and rail lines, he said, are a testament to the collapse of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
Obi urged Nigerians to demand integrity in public finance and governance, stressing that illicit wealth disrupts the currency market and weakens the economy. He argued that the corruption embedded in the fuel subsidy scheme, among other vices, must be eliminated to set the nation on the right path.
He cited the examples of Angola and Ghana, where transparent governance has stabilized currencies, as proof that change is possible.
Obi encouraged citizens to actively participate in political renewal by identifying and supporting credible leaders, particularly lawmakers, in future elections.
“Nigerians must rise to the challenge,” he concluded, emphasizing that the path to a brighter future lies in collective sacrifice and accountability.
