On June 12, former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi marked Democracy Day by challenging President Tinubu’s priorities. Rather than celebrating democratic gains, Obi accused the administration of playing politics, neglecting urgent issues like poverty, insecurity, and failing public services. His speech underscored a growing gap between rhetoric and reality.
- Rising poverty: From 38.9% in 2023 to 54% of Nigerians now living below the poverty line.
- Healthcare collapse: Under 10% of primary health centres are functional; maternal care is hazardous.
- Security crisis: Hunger and unrest are driving displacement; over 20 million are facing mental health strains.
- Debt burden: National debt hits ₦188 trillion, yet public welfare shows no improvement.
- Energy woes: Higher tariffs for unreliable power, breaking campaign promise on electricity.
- Remote governance: Obi urged Tinubu to stop ruling from abroad and witness citizens’ suffering firsthand.
- Agricultural push: Restoring farmers’ safety seen as vital for economic revival.
Obi’s Democracy Day critique reframes governance as a test of action over politics. His data-driven warnings spotlight deepening hardship and call for tangible reforms. Democracy Day’s speeches must translate into policies that ease daily struggles; otherwise, they ring hollow.
How can leadership bridge the divide between political ambition and the everyday needs of Nigerians? Obi’s local tour of failing maternity wards and rural insecurity images every Nigerian’s reality, demanding leadership that listens.
