•Peter Obi
Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said hunger and poverty have become the daily reality for millions of Nigerians.
He stated this in a post on his X handle today, noting that the situation was no longer about statistics but a harsh truth visible in the lives of the people.
According to him, recent data from the United Nations revealed that about 34 million Nigerians are projected to face acute food insecurity, while 63 per cent of the population — about 133 million people — now live in multidimensional poverty, reports The Guardian.
Obi said, “Inflation, even with the suppressed statistics, is nearly 30 per cent, while unemployment and economic mismanagement have nearly wiped out our once vibrant middle class. Families who once lived stable lives are now slipping into poverty.”
He blamed the crisis on “incompetent leadership without capacity and compassion” that failed to prioritise the welfare of the people.
Drawing a comparison with Argentina, Obi said the South American country had in two years reduced its poverty rate from 52 per cent to 38.1 per cent and lowered extreme poverty to 8.2 per cent through decisive reforms, prudent governance, and policies that restored investor confidence.
He stressed that both Argentina and Nigeria’s current leadership came into office in the same year, adding that while two years may not be enough for a total turnaround, it should be sufficient to begin genuine reforms that would be felt by the people.
“Nigeria can work. We can reduce hunger and restore dignity to Nigerians. But this will not happen while corruption and criminality dominate our governance,” Obi said.
He maintained that the country’s transformation would require leaders committed to cutting the cost of governance, fighting corruption, and investing in critical sectors like education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.
