Peter Obi: It’s very difficult to speak truth to power in Nigeria

Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra state, says being courageous enough to speak truth to power in Nigeria could be seen as an offence.

Obi spoke on Monday in Abuja at the launch of ‘Made in Aba’, a book written by Enyinnaya Abaribe, senate minority leader.

Obi, who was vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, said he knows what he goes through when he speaks in public or grants interviews.

“He (Abaribe) revised what we should be in public office; always having the courage to speak against injustice, falsehood, and most importantly, speaking truth to all which is very difficult in our dear country, where being so could be seen as an offence — a great offence. I know that myself,” Obi said.

“I know what I go through when you speak in public or do any sort of interview. You will see people asking you, ‘where did you get this figure?’ ‘How did you come about this?’ It even happened to me just this morning, where the NBS said if you have N137,430, you live above poverty.

“I said we cannot have our standard different from the global standard. Global standard says what you need everyday is $1.90. If you translate it to the real market, it is almost N10,000 a day.

“But our own is three hundred and something naira a day. I said it won’t work; our standard will not be different. So, I know what Enyinnaya Abaribe goes through and we need to encourage him.

“I look forward to reading this book and learning some tricks of how to manage persecution whenever you speak truth to power.”