141 MILLION NIGERIANS POOR WHILE POLITICIANS JOSTLE FOR POWER — OBI
Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s worsening poverty situation, stating that about 141 million Nigerians now live in poverty while politicians remain preoccupied with power struggles and internal party battles.
Obi made the remark while commenting on the state of the nation’s economy and political climate, warning that Nigeria is sliding backwards due to misplaced priorities among the political elite.
According to him, rather than focusing on policies that improve the lives of citizens, many politicians are more interested in jostling for power, control of party structures, and positioning ahead of future elections. He described the trend as dangerous, stressing that governance should be centred on people’s welfare, not personal ambition.
The former governor lamented that rising unemployment, inflation, food insecurity, and weak social services have continued to push millions of Nigerians into poverty, even as political actors expend energy on internal conflicts and political calculations.
Obi argued that meaningful leadership requires shifting attention from politics of self-interest to economic productivity, human capital development, education, healthcare, and job creation. He warned that failure to address the poverty crisis could have severe consequences for national stability and development.
He further urged leaders at all levels to place Nigerians at the centre of governance, insisting that reducing poverty and improving living standards should be the primary goal of political leadership.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Federal Government to Obi’s comments.
