Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has blamed Nigeria’s leaders for plunging citizens deeper into poverty while countries like China, India, and Vietnam are pulling millions out.
Speaking in Lagos at the Lagos Business School All MBA Students Conference, with Cambridge University’s Judge Business School in attendance, Obi said Nigeria’s problem is not planning but failed leadership.
“Execution that delivers results is driven by competent and responsible leadership with capacity, compassion, and character to drive disciplined and committed implementation of sound policies and strategies,” he said.
He hailed China for lifting 430 million people out of poverty, India 270 million, and Vietnam 45 million, thanks to consistent policy execution. But for Nigeria, Obi lamented, it’s the opposite.
“While these countries and others are lifting people out of poverty, more people are falling into poverty in Nigeria, with over 130 million Nigerians presently classified as multidimensionally poor,” he declared.
Obi, a former Anambra governor, said only leaders with capacity, compassion, character, and discipline can halt the decline.
“That is what Nigeria needs today. A New Nigeria is Possible,” he added.
