Peter Obi has raised alarm over the deepening insecurity and grinding poverty sweeping across Nigeria, warning that the country is fast losing its soul under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, June 12, to mark Democracy Day, the former Labour Party presidential candidate painted a bleak picture of life under the current government, accusing it of failing to protect citizens or provide basic needs.
“The state of the nation is depressing as the economy and security are at an all-time low,” Obi said. “Even key indicators for measuring national progress like health care, education and production are in shambles.”
Obi lamented that while politicians celebrated June 12 in comfort, millions of Nigerians remained trapped in fear, hunger, and hopelessness. He said the rising insecurity has driven farmers off their lands, deepening the food crisis and threatening national stability.
“Our people are hungry and afraid. In many rural communities, farming is no longer safe. Insecurity has pushed us into a full-blown food emergency,” he warned.
He also referenced a growing mental health crisis in the country, driven by hardship and hopelessness. “Due to this, the World Health Organisation released a report saying over 20 million Nigerians have mental health issues,” he said.
He painted a devastating picture of Nigeria’s health sector, especially for the most vulnerable. “Less than 10% of primary health care centres across the country are functioning,
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“I have travelled to several states in the last six months and I have had to make interventions in maternity wards where giving birth is a 50/50 chance of survival for both mother and child,” Obi said.
According to Obi, the current administration has piled on debt without showing results. “It has borrowed so much money that Nigeria’s debt is now N188 trillion,” he said, noting that corruption remains rampant and the people have not felt the impact of the borrowed funds.
“Nigerians now pay more tariffs for more darkness,” he added. “This is against the president’s promise during his campaign, where he said if he didn’t give Nigerians power in four years, they should not vote for him for a second term.”
He also criticised the president’s long absences from the country, saying, “If he spends the same amount of time going round Nigeria, he would have seen the suffering.”
Calling on Tinubu to uphold the rule of law, Obi demanded urgent action to restore security, protect livelihoods, and reduce the cost of production for local manufacturers.
Despite the dire outlook, Obi urged Nigerians not to give up. “We will not turn away. We will not be silent. We must continue to demand action and refuse to normalise failure,” he said.
As the country marks another Democracy Day, Obi’s message is clear: without tackling insecurity and poverty head-on, democracy in Nigeria risks becoming a hollow ritual.