Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has described Nigeria’s leadership system as a “crime scene”, blaming political leaders and government officials for the country’s rising poverty, corruption, and governance failure.
Obi made the remarks on Tuesday during a visit to the Godfrey Okoye School of Nursing Sciences in Enugu, where he donated N20 million to support the institution’s development.
“It is not easy to be working in our country today, because those who work are not cared for. Those who don’t work—government officials and politicians—are busy stealing public funds,” he said.
Quoting World Bank and UNICEF reports, Obi pointed to worsening poverty and malnutrition levels across the country, calling it a shame that Nigeria’s abundant resources are being misused.
“We’ve turned governance into a crime scene. Instead of using the resources to do the right thing, we’re using them to do the wrong thing,” Obi declared.
Critical Nursing Shortage Highlighted
The former Anambra State governor also spotlighted the country’s healthcare crisis, noting that Nigeria requires 1.2 million nurses but currently has less than 200,000.
He urged nursing students to take their education seriously, stressing the global demand for nurses, especially in underserved communities and rural hospitals across Nigeria.
“The world needs you. Nigeria needs you. Our villages and community hospitals need nurses more than ever,” he told the students.
Commends Religious and Volunteer Institutions
Obi praised the efforts of the Catholic Church and other non-governmental actors for stepping in where the government has failed, especially in education and health sectors.
“What you are doing is what we are supposed to be doing in government. That’s the job of leadership,” he added.
Bishop Onaga: We’re Praying for Your Vision for Nigeria
In response, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, expressed gratitude for Obi’s generosity and concern for the poor.
“Not everybody loves what is right, but you do. We’re proud of your contributions to this state and your vision for Nigeria. We’ll keep praying that your dream for this country becomes reality,” the Bishop said.
Onaga described Nigeria’s current situation as dire, emphasizing that the country needs leaders who genuinely care about the people.
“Things are not working well in our country. But we pray God gives us a leader who can carry the dream forward,” he added.
