Obi: Nigeria must choose progress over politics of manipulation
Former Anambra governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has contrasted Nigeria’s governance trajectory with that of India, urging Nigerian leaders to prioritise innovation, integrity and the future of the nation’s children.
In a statement on Monday titled “A Tale of Two Nations: India and Nigeria,” Obi said Indians woke up to a message from their Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, commending citizens for standing at the forefront of artificial intelligence and expressing optimism that outcomes from an AI Summit would help shape a progressive and opportunity-driven future for their children.
Obi noted that the development underscored how seriously India is positioning itself in the global technology race, particularly in the transformative field of artificial intelligence.
Drawing a sharp contrast, the former Anambra governor lamented that Nigeria continues to grapple with issues of electoral malpractice, poor governance and the manipulation of vulnerable citizens, including children, for political gain.
“Yet in Nigeria, we wake up thinking about how to rig local government elections, how to exploit and impoverish the poor, and how to use the very children we should be nurturing for the future as tools for manipulation and election malpractice,” he said.
Obi maintained that Nigeria is richly endowed with human and natural resources but has failed to translate its potential into tangible progress due to bad governance, greed and selfish leadership.
According to him, the country’s current realities fall short of what it ought to be — a nation where every child can dream freely, every citizen can thrive, and leadership is defined by service, vision and accountability rather than personal gain.
He called on Nigerians to demand compassionate, committed and character-driven leadership that works for the collective good and transforms the country’s promise into measurable progress.
“It is time for Nigerians to demand leadership imbued with compassion, commitment and character – leadership that works not just for a few, but for all,” Obi stated.
