Dare Babalola
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has stated that January was a “deeply distressing” month for Nigeria, pointing to worsening insecurity, failures in education and power supply, and “misplaced governance priorities” by the federal government.
In a statement on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi said January highlighted Nigeria’s growing challenges, warning that conditions are deteriorating across multiple sectors.
He said insecurity surged nationwide, with reports of several killings and hundreds of kidnappings, including children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
Obi noted abductors often demand millions of naira in ransom, while persistent insecurity keeps farmers from their fields, worsening food shortages and rural poverty.
The former Anambra governor also raised alarms over the state of education, describing it as the foundation of national development.
He lamented that millions of Nigerian children remain out of school, while those enrolled often cannot attend due to insecurity or teachers’ strikes.
He called the situation in Abuja, the nation’s capital, “particularly tragic,” noting that schools remain closed despite billions of naira spent on renovating a conference centre and constructing bus terminals.
On infrastructure, Obi pointed to Nigeria’s electricity crisis, noting that the country, which already ranks among those with the poorest access to power, experienced two national grid collapses in January alone.
He further criticised President Bola Tinubu’s travel schedule, contrasting Nigeria with other countries where leaders focus on domestic governance at the start of the year.
Obi noted that the president spent 23 days abroad in January across two foreign trips, questioning the urgency of such absences amid pressing national challenges.
“The collective impact of these events paints a grim portrait of a nation grappling with insecurity, economic distress, failing infrastructure, and profound social upheaval,” Obi said.
He accused the political class, particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), of prioritising power calculations, rallies, and welcoming defectors over addressing the daily struggles of Nigerians.
