Former Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, said successive Nigerian leaders betrayed the vision of the nation’s founding fathers.
This was as he blamed decades of leadership failure for the country’s socio-economic decline.
Obi made this allegation in a broadcast to Nigerians on Wednesday to mark the nation’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The ex-Anambra state governor lamented that Nigeria, once tipped as an emerging African economic and political power at independence in 1960, has fallen short of its promise due to misgovernance.
The politician recalled that Nigeria’s founding fathers fought for independence with confidence and determination to build a prosperous country capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the world’s most advanced nations.
He also noted that Time Magazine once predicted Nigeria would rise to become a true African superpower.
“Sadly, this vision has been betrayed by leadership that enriches a few while impoverishing the majority of citizens.
“By the end of 2007, our total debt was about N2.5 trillion, only 10 percent of GDP, after President Obasanjo’s administration secured debt forgiveness of over $30 billion.
“By 2014, Nigeria had become Africa’s largest economy and was primed to achieve middle-income status,” he lamented.
Successive leaders betrayed Nigeria – Peter Obi