Nigeria at 66: Obi Calls for Honest Reflection, Says Country’s Biggest Problem Is Leadership Failure

As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to move beyond celebration and undertake an honest assessment of the country’s condition, describing leadership and the failure to convert national resources into human development as major challenges.

In his Independence Day address on Thursday, Obi said October 1 should be a day of thanksgiving and appreciation for Nigeria’s founding fathers, past leaders and citizens who contributed to the country’s survival and development.

He, however, argued that independence anniversaries should also provide an opportunity for serious national reflection.

According to him, every serious nation must continually ask three fundamental questions: “Where are we today? Where do we want to be? How do we get from where we are to where we want to be?”

Obi said the questions were particularly important given the difficulties confronting Nigerians despite the promises made by the APC-led government in 2023.

The former Anambra State governor rejected the idea that Nigeria’s problems were caused by a curse, arguing that the country possesses enormous human and natural resources.

He instead questioned whether Nigerians had become responsible for their own predicament through the choices made by leaders and the failures tolerated by citizens.

“Are we cursed, or have we become the curse through the choices we have made and the failures we have tolerated?” Obi asked.

He added that Nigeria was “immensely endowed and blessed,” but said the country had struggled to convert those resources into improved living standards and economic opportunities.

“Our greatest problem is not a lack of resources; it is the failure to convert our enormous resources into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity,” he said.

Obi painted a difficult picture of Nigeria, citing widespread poverty, insecurity, hunger, unemployment, poor health outcomes, drug abuse and the number of children outside school.

He said more than 140 million Nigerians were living in poverty and severe hardship, while more than 18 million children were out of school.

He also warned that more than 40 million Nigerians could face extreme hunger by the end of 2026 if urgent measures were not taken.

Those figures were presented by Obi in his address and differ from some current official and international estimates. The IMF, for example, reported in June that poverty at Nigeria’s national poverty line was estimated at 63 percent and that 27 million Nigerians had faced food insecurity in late 2025. The Federal Government and National Bureau of Statistics also began a fresh nationwide survey in 2026 to establish a more current figure for out-of-school children.

On security, Obi cited terrorism, banditry and kidnapping as continuing threats to lives and livelihoods, referring to the recent deaths of 37 young Nigerians as another painful reminder of the country's security challenges.

He also highlighted maternal and infant mortality, youth unemployment and underemployment, drug abuse and low life expectancy.

The NDC candidate linked his concerns to a recent two-day visit to Sokoto State alongside his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

According to Obi, the delegation held consultations with residents and groups on insecurity, poverty, out-of-school children, youth unemployment, drug abuse and other challenges.

They also visited the Ramin Kura Internally Displaced Persons camp in Sokoto metropolis.

Obi said the conditions he encountered there were deeply troubling, with thousands of women and children displaced from their communities and living in difficult circumstances.

He said many of the children lacked access to education, while mothers and children had limited access to basic healthcare.

Earlier reporting on the visit said Obi observed that some displaced persons were living in makeshift shelters and that several people were sharing a single room, while the camp lacked adequate toilets, a primary healthcare centre and a basic school.

“These are Nigerians who should be living in their communities, going to school, farming their land, conducting their businesses and contributing to the economy. Instead, they live as displaced persons in their own country,” Obi said.

Obi said the situation at Ramin Kura was not an isolated case but reflected the hardship experienced in different parts of Nigeria.

He promised that, if elected, his administration would confront insecurity and create conditions that would allow displaced Nigerians to return safely to their communities.

“No Nigerian should be forced to live in an IDP camp because his or her government has failed to provide security,” he said.

He added that restoring security would allow farmers to return to their farms, children to return to school and businesses to operate without fear.

Obi said Nigeria's 66th anniversary should therefore be used not only to celebrate the country's achievements but also to confront its shortcomings.

He called for leadership that would translate Nigeria's resources into productivity, security, education, healthcare and shared prosperity.

The NDC candidate said his message was not intended to promote despair but to encourage Nigerians to confront the country's problems honestly and work toward a better future.

He maintained that Nigeria has the resources and human capacity to overcome its difficulties, but argued that achieving that potential would require accountable and measurable governance.

As Nigeria enters another year of independence, Obi urged citizens to look back with gratitude, examine the country's present condition honestly and look forward with courage.