Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has stated that Nigeria is in a worse state now compared to the late ’80s and early ’90s.
He made the remark on Thursday after attending the launch of *A Journey in Service*, an autobiography by Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), the former military president from 1985 to 1993.
“The first takeaway was the keynote speaker’s striking French quotation, ‘Rien n’a changé,’ meaning ‘Nothing much has changed.’ For Nigeria, we are actually worse off than during IBB’s time,” he shared on X.
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He noted that when IBB left office in 1992, countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana, which were all in the low Human Development Index (HDI) category, were in a similar position to Nigeria.
However, these countries have since advanced to medium and high HDI levels, while Nigeria remains stuck in the low HDI category, either stagnant or in decline.
Obi praised IBB for his contributions to Nigeria’s economy, particularly in the development of the financial sector.
He acknowledged that under IBB’s leadership, the country saw significant growth and that he played a crucial role in fostering national unity and economic development through policies that strengthened the country.
“Documenting such experiences is important, as it helps us learn from those who have left a lasting impact on our nation. I look forward to reading this book, which will undoubtedly offer valuable insights. As someone dedicated to continuous learning, I will always seek knowledge from documented experiences and historical records while contributing to the legacy library,” Obi remarked.
The former Anambra State governor also noted that Ghana has maintained a true democracy for the past 30 years, with leadership transitions that reflect the people’s votes.
He pointed out that, unlike Nigeria, where electoral outcomes often do not represent the people’s will, Ghana has seen ruling party candidates concede defeat, upholding the principles of democracy.
Obi further commended IBB for acknowledging that MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won the June 12, 1993 presidential election, calling it a significant step toward national healing and progress.
“IBB’s admission about the June 12 election is a key moment for national unity and moving forward,” he concluded.
