As Nigeria marks its 65th Independence Anniversary, two prominent voices — former Labour Party presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi and renowned economist and former Minister of Finance Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu — have issued sobering assessments of the country’s current state, warning that despite the symbolism of the day, Nigeria remains dangerously off course.
In a statement commemorating the anniversary, Mr. Obi lamented the erosion of Nigeria’s economic strength, democratic integrity, and human development under the current All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration. He called for urgent action to rescue the nation from what he described as the “tragic failures of leadership” that have derailed the hopes of Nigeria’s founding fathers.
“Today should be a day of joy,” Obi began, recalling Nigeria’s promising beginnings as an independent African power in 1960. “But instead, it is a day of deep reflection. Nigeria has been greatly diminished.”
Citing troubling statistics, Obi painted a bleak picture: national debt ballooning to N175 trillion — nearly 50% of GDP — without corresponding improvements in infrastructure or productivity; over 15 million Nigerians pushed into poverty in the past year alone; and more than 150 million citizens lacking access to basic healthcare, education, and clean water. He decried a leadership culture focused on “brutal revenue-driven policies” and luxury spending at the expense of essential public services.
“The Vice President’s residence was renovated at a cost of N25 billion — more than the combined capital budgets of six major university teaching hospitals,” Obi said. “At the same time, Nigerians pay more for electricity, food, and healthcare, while receiving less.”
The former Anambra State governor warned that despite Nigeria’s vast natural and human resources, continued fiscal irresponsibility and insecurity have made the country one of the most terrorised and unattractive places for investors. However, he remained hopeful that with competent and compassionate leadership, Nigeria could rise again.
“We must end a system where leaders feast while the people starve,” Obi said. “The old politics must end, and a new politics of prosperity for all must begin.”
Echoing Obi’s concerns, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu offered a more technical critique in a recent interview on Arise Television, challenging President Bola Tinubu’s claim in his Independence Day broadcast that Nigeria has “turned the corner” economically.
“Turning the corner is a very risky concept,” Dr. Kalu cautioned. “We should not delude ourselves. We need to take stock realistically.”
While acknowledging the President’s efforts to inspire confidence, Dr. Kalu emphasized that meaningful recovery remains elusive unless deep structural issues — particularly in power, security, infrastructure, and governance — are urgently addressed.
Kalu outlined 11 priority areas requiring urgent reform, from youth employment to constitutional restructuring. On unemployment, he noted that promises of job creation must be matched by actual investment in agriculture, manufacturing, and vocational training — sectors that have suffered from decades of policy inconsistency.
“You can’t just solve unemployment at the macro level by promising more jobs,” he said. “We need to revive industries and ensure our youths are equipped with the skills to build their own future.”
The former minister highlighted Nigeria’s stagnant power sector and crumbling railway infrastructure as two glaring obstacles to development. “Until we fix rail and power — the foundations of any economy — progress will remain elusive,” he asserted.
Despite the criticisms, both leaders were unified in their belief that Nigeria’s potential remains vast and recoverable.
“Nigerians excel all over the world,” Kalu said. “But we must build the right structures at home to harness that potential.”
Together, Obi and Kalu’s remarks serve as a stark counterpoint to official Independence Day rhetoric, underscoring growing concern among thought leaders about the nation’s direction. Their messages call for urgent reforms, honest leadership, and a national rededication to the values of accountability, equity, and sustainable development.
