Peter Obi: Nigeria’s political class turning governance into a reality TV show

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has criticised Nigeria’s political class for prioritising frivolities over the country’s pressing issues.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday, Obi described the current political landscape as an “embarrassing spectacle,” adding that the country is facing some of its worst socio-economic challenges.

The former governor of Anambra said the rising levels of poverty, hunger, insecurity, and out-of-school children require urgent attention.

“It is deeply troubling that Nigeria’s political leadership is rapidly descending into an embarrassing spectacle,” Obi wrote.

“We are at a time when our nation faces the highest levels of actual and multidimensional poverty, soaring infant mortality rates, millions of out-of-school children, and one of the most insecure and hunger-stricken environments on earth.

“One would expect our leaders to be focusing and sacrificing solely on providing urgent, transformative solutions to this myriad of problems.”

He said the national discourse is instead dominated by controversies surrounding allegations of sexual harassment in the national assembly, budget padding, and judicial pronouncements that could destabilise governance in states.

“What is coming out of the three arms of government—the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary—is disgusting and uninspiring,” Obi said.

“The executive show of negative power as seen in Osun state, the reckless judiciary pronouncement on Rivers state that is capable of threatening democracy, plus the embarrassing scandal from the national assembly, all combine to give a gloomy picture of our democratic journey.”

Obi said politicians must stop defecting to parties where they believe they can easily rig their way into office, describing the practice as “reckless neglect of serious governance.”

He urged the leadership of the three arms of government to focus on stabilising the polity and providing solutions to the country’s pressing challenges.

“This mockery of leadership is not only unacceptable; it is a betrayal of the people’s trust,” he said.

“Nigeria cannot afford to be governed like a reality TV show while millions suffer for so long. It is time for leadership rooted in character, competence, capacity, consistency, compassion, and urgency—leadership that prioritises education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.”

Obi added that the current trajectory threatens the nation’s stability and undermines its future.