‘Why Would a Presidential Candidate Say Nigeria Is Worst Place to Be Born?’ — NaijaFarmer Questions Obi

A social media commentator, NaijaFarmer, has questioned Peter Obi’s decision to describe Nigeria as “the worst place to be born” in his Independence Day address, arguing that such a statement could send the wrong message about the country he hopes to govern.

NaijaFarmer raised the concern in a September 27 post on X while reacting to a report by Vanguard Newspapers quoting Obi’s remarks.

“This kind statement doesn't sit well with me sha. Why would a presidential candidate be saying something about the country he wants to govern?” NaijaFarmer wrote.

He added that, regardless of Nigeria’s challenges, he did not believe such a description was appropriate for a presidential candidate.

“What would Sudan, Sierra Leone, Cameroon say?” he asked.

Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, made the statement in his Independence Day address marking Nigeria’s 66th anniversary on October 1.

While discussing poverty, insecurity, hunger, unemployment, maternal and infant mortality and other challenges, Obi said: “Today, Nigeria is the worst place to be born.”

He argued that Nigeria's problems were not caused by a lack of natural or human resources, but by the failure to translate those resources into human development, security, productivity and shared prosperity.

Obi also questioned whether the country was “cursed” or had become responsible for its own difficulties through choices made by its leaders and the failures tolerated by citizens.

His address came shortly after President Bola Tinubu delivered his own Independence Day speech, in which the President presented a more positive assessment of the country's economic direction.

Tinubu said his administration had moved beyond the difficult phase of economic reforms and was entering what he called an “age of prosperity.”

Obi's speech focused largely on the difficulties Nigerians continue to face, including poverty, insecurity, food insecurity, unemployment and poor social outcomes.

He cited figures including more than 140 million Nigerians living in poverty and hardship, more than 18 million out-of-school children, more than 35 million unemployed or underemployed youths and a projected 40 million people facing extreme hunger by the end of 2026. These figures were presented by Obi in his address and some differ from estimates published by international organisations or other sources.

NaijaFarmer's criticism, however, focuses less on whether the challenges exist and more on the message created by describing Nigeria in such stark terms while seeking to become its president.

His reference to Sudan, Sierra Leone and Cameroon reflects his view that Nigeria's image and national pride should also be considered when political leaders discuss the country's shortcomings.

The reaction has added to the wider debate generated by the contrasting Independence Day messages from Obi and Tinubu, with the two politicians offering markedly different assessments of Nigeria's present condition and economic direction.

NaijaFarmer's criticism remains a personal opinion expressed on social media, while Obi's statement was part of his broader argument for urgent national reflection and reform.