Nigeria’s political elite has come under fire from Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), for putting petty matters ahead of the nation’s urgent problems.
Obi called the present condition of politics an “embarrassing spectacle” in a statement published on his X account on Saturday. He also mentioned that the nation is dealing with some of its most severe socioeconomic problems.
The escalating rates of poverty, hunger, insecurity, and out-of-school children, according to the former governor of Anambra, demand immediate intervention.
“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.”
“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.”
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He asked the three arms of government to concentrate on bringing the country’s urgent problems under control and stabilising the political system.
“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.
