Nigeria Worse Off Today Than in Babangida’s Era, Says Peter Obi

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has lamented the state of Nigeria, saying the country is in a far worse condition today than it was in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Obi made the statement after attending the launch of A Journey in Service, an autobiography by former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, in Abuja. While acknowledging Babangida’s controversial legacy, the former Anambra governor praised the ex-leader for his contributions to Nigeria’s financial sector.

“Under his leadership, Nigeria witnessed substantial growth, particularly in the financial sector,” Obi wrote on X. He credited Babangida with implementing policies that strengthened national cohesion and economic development.

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Obi’s remarks sparked debate, as many Nigerians continue to associate Babangida’s regime with economic hardship, structural adjustment policies, and the controversial annulment of the 1993 election. However, Obi suggested that Nigeria’s current state is even more troubling, highlighting growing economic instability, insecurity, and social division.

His comments come at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with inflation, unemployment, and a struggling naira, leading to comparisons between past and present administrations. While Babangida’s tenure saw major banking sector reforms, critics argue that it also laid the groundwork for some of the economic challenges Nigeria faces today.

Despite Obi’s recognition of Babangida’s economic policies, his statement subtly underscores a critique of Nigeria’s present leadership, implying that successive administrations have failed to build on past efforts to foster sustainable development.

With Nigeria’s economic woes deepening, Obi’s reflections add to the ongoing discourse about leadership, policy failures, and the nation’s uncertain future.