Nigeria worse off than during IBB’s era, says Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, says Nigeria is worse off when compared to the late ’80s and early ’90s.

The former governor of Anambra spoke after attending the launch of ‘A Journey in Service’, an autobiography by Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), Nigeria’s military president from 1985 to 1993.

Obi praised IBB for his contributions to Nigeria’s economy, adding that the former president played a major role in the development of the nation’s financial sector.

“Under his leadership, Nigeria witnessed substantial growth, particularly in the financial sector,” he wrote on X.

“He played a key role in fostering a united and equitable Nigeria, and economic landscape, ensuring policies that strengthened national cohesion and economic development.

“Documenting such experiences is a welcome development, as it allows us to learn from those who have served and left a lasting impact on the nation.

“I look forward to reading this book, which undoubtedly holds valuable lessons. As someone committed to continuous learning, I will always align myself with knowledge drawn from documented experiences and historical records as well as contributing to the legacy library.”

Obi expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in Nigeria’s economic, political and infrastructural landscape since independence.

“The first (takeaway) is the keynote speaker’s notable quotation in French, ‘Rien n’a changé’ meaning ‘Nothing much has changed’. In the case of Nigeria, we are worse off than we were during IBB’s era,” he added.

“Using our contemporary peers as a benchmark, when IBB left office in 1992, countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana were all in the low Human Development Index (HDI) category — just like Nigeria.

“Today, however, these nations have advanced to medium and high HDI levels, while Nigeria remains in the low HDI category, having either stagnated or declined.

“The keynote speaker’s comment that Ghana has remained a truly democratic country for the past 30 years, with leadership transitions that reflect the genuine votes of the people.

“Unlike Nigeria, where electoral outcomes often fail to reflect the people’s will, Ghana has witnessed instances where ruling party candidates conceded defeat, respecting democracy in its truest form.”

Obi also commended IBB for admitting that the June 12, 1993 presidential election was won by MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“Lastly of the most profound moments of the event was IBB’s admission that Chief MKO Abiola won the June 12 election. This acknowledgement is a step toward national healing, unity and progress of our nation,” he said.

“I hope that one day, other key players in Nigeria’s democracy will find the courage to recognize the true winners of past elections, allowing our nation to tell its story with honesty and reflection.”