Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has criticized the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, accusing him of lacking the moral authority to discuss poverty issues in Nigeria.
In a personally signed statement titled “Factually Addressing Mr. Peter Obi’s Criticism of Nigeria at Johns Hopkins University,” Sanwo-Olu alleged that Obi contributed to the worsening poverty in Nigeria during his time as governor of Anambra State.
Recall that Peter Obi recently spoke at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he compared Nigeria’s poverty situation to that of China and Vietnam. He emphasized that, in 1990, Nigeria had fewer people living in poverty than either of those countries but had since fallen behind due to leadership failures.
Obi stated, “The question then is, what exactly did these countries do to achieve their desired growth and development? That is where political leadership comes in. These nations, unlike Nigeria, invested in critical developmental areas like education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation through competent leadership with character, capacity, and compassion.”
Responding to Obi’s remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu accused him of not only criticizing the Nigerian government but also portraying Nigeria negatively on the global stage — a move he described as unpatriotic.
“On Thursday, April 24, 2025, former Governor Peter Obi made several disparaging comments about Nigeria at Johns Hopkins University. It is disturbing to see a prominent Nigerian de-market his country abroad. True patriotism demands that we all promote a positive image of Nigeria internationally — not just for the government’s sake, but for the country’s overall good,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Sanwo-Olu challenged Obi’s focus on poverty by highlighting Obi’s record as governor.
“I find it ironic that a man who failed to build a single stand-alone school or hospital during his eight-year tenure in Anambra now criticizes a government that is actively investing in these sectors,” he stated. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his time as Lagos State governor and now as President of Nigeria, has built over 200 schools, provided student loans to over 200,000 undergraduates, and issued over half a billion dollars in credit facilities to small and medium enterprises — all in less than two years.”
Sanwo-Olu also cited Tinubu’s track record of reducing poverty in Lagos by more than 46% during his governorship between 1999 and 2007, asserting confidence that Tinubu will replicate similar successes at the national level.
“After all, the best predictor of the future is the past,” Sanwo-Olu remarked.
The Lagos governor further questioned Obi’s performance in Anambra, citing statistics that show an increase in poverty during his tenure.
“Before Peter Obi became governor in June 2007, Anambra’s poverty rate stood at 41.4%. After just two years in office, that figure jumped to 53.7%. Interestingly, five years after Obi left, his successor, Willie Obiano, successfully reduced Anambra’s poverty rate to 14.8%,” he explained.
Sanwo-Olu concluded by questioning Obi’s credibility:
“Given these facts, it is difficult to see how Mr. Obi, whose administration coincided with a sharp rise in poverty, can now pose as a champion for the poor. Meanwhile, Governor Tinubu’s policies, both at the state and national levels, have lifted millions out of poverty. In light of this, we must ask: who truly has the right to criticize whom?
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