₦airaland Forum

Sharpsharp00123:
Y didn't he do all these as governor?


Like seriously if I have d power I will tell all ex political office holders vying for presidency to campaign with what they did during their tenure


How can u b a governor for 8 years n u can't campaign with what u did during the 8 years but u suddenly want us to believe u have all the solution to our problem today.

He said he loved education but lecturers went on strike for 6 months under him

He said he loved healthcare but doctors went on strike for 13 months under him

He claimed to b a democrat but didn't conduct local government election for good 7 years until court forced him to do so.

He claimed he will move us from consumption to production but as governor of one of d most locally sufficient state he didn't create any industry n he didn't even build school

He claimed to b a business guru but the hero beer that happens to b his only legacy is next to nothing today

He claims to leave 75 billion in state account but obiano debunked it loud n clear

He claims to know everything but poverty increased under him as governor

So what makes him d sudden Messiah today?

Y is obi always talking about Indonesia n China n he's not talking about his own performance as governor

At least if he claims to b d best he should talk about things he did as governor n tell us how he will bring it to d federal level

DrMB:
“If Nigeria collapsed in two years, why can’t we fix it in two?”

That was the rhetorical bombshell dropped by Peter Obi during his recent Arise News interview, where he laid out a plan that many dismissed as optimistic, even fantastical. But for a country where hope often masquerades as policy, Obi’s statements deserve more than a cursory nod. They demand investigation. Could this man, twice bruised by the ballot but unbowed, really reverse Nigeria’s downward spiral in just 24 months?

Let’s trace the promises, the proof, and the peril.

The Two-Year Turnaround: A Realistic Sprint or a Political Illusion?

“It took Nigeria two years to deteriorate—two years is enough to fix it.” — Peter Obi

At first glance, this sounds like the campaign slogan of a magician, not a technocrat. But Obi’s logic hinges on one brutal truth: Nigeria’s collapse was not gradual. Between 2023 and 2024, the naira lost over 100% of its value and inflation soared to 34.6%, with food inflation nearing 41%. People didn’t just wake up poorer—they plummeted into destitution.

But here’s where Obi's claim earns partial credibility: his record in Anambra State.

As governor, Obi slashed wasteful spending and prioritized critical sectors—education and health—without taking on debt. Unlike many governors, he left a surplus. Still, Anambra is not Nigeria. It’s one thing to steer a canoe and another to captain a shipwreck.

Can a man who ran a tight state budget challenge the entrenched interests draining a federal behemoth?

Governance Costs: When Leaders Eat, the People Starve

“Cut governance costs and show the savings to the people.” — Obi

It’s an audacious promise in a country where governance is a gravy train, not a responsibility. Obi claims he’ll slash costs—and if his Anambra tenure is a precedent, he might mean it. There, he refused a governor’s lodge, cut perks, and invested in human capital.

But here’s the catch: at the national level, corruption is not just a feature—it’s the default setting. Buhari claimed to fight it. Tinubu promised efficiency. Neither made a dent. So, Obi must either crack a deeply entrenched cartel—or be co-opted by it.

Example: In 2023, Nigeria had over 400 duplicated MDAs (Ministries, Departments, Agencies)—some doing the same job twice, others doing nothing at all.

Misplaced Priorities: Conference Halls Over Clinics

Obi’s outrage struck a nerve: 70% of Nigeria’s primary health centres (PHCs) are non-functional, yet the government shelled out ₦35 billion (later verified as ₦39 billion) for a conference centre facelift.

Let’s pause here.

That’s ₦39 billion spent on marble and chandeliers, while pregnant women in rural Nigeria die for lack of gauze and electricity.

Real-Life Example: In Zamfara State, a 2024 report found over 78% of PHCs lacked electricity or running water. Yet Abuja’s International Conference Centre boasts new luxury finishes.

The disparity isn’t financial—it’s moral. Obi’s criticism exposes a ruling elite detached from everyday suffering.

But can Obi dismantle a system that rewards misplaced priorities with padded contracts and zero consequences?

The Rice Revelation: Why Bangladesh Feeds Millions While Nigeria Imports Hunger

Obi’s rice comparison was exaggerated—Bangladesh doesn’t produce 60 million tonnes, but the real number (~37.5 million tonnes) still dwarfs Nigeria’s 5.5 million tonnes.

The point remains powerful: a nation six times smaller produces seven times more rice.

Underlying Issue: Nigeria’s agriculture remains subsistence-level, under-mechanized, and riddled with middlemen and rent-seekers.

Concrete Contrast: Bangladesh modernized its supply chains, subsidized inputs, and gave farmers access to microcredit. Nigeria? It’s still fighting to deliver fertilizer without it being diverted.

Currency Devaluation: A Gun Without Bullets

“You can’t devalue a currency if you produce nothing to export.” — Obi

This is where Obi sounds less like a politician and more like a structural economist.

In 2024, Nigeria's non-oil exports stood at a paltry 9.28%, while oil still made up 80.8% of exports. So, when the naira was floated and lost half its value, the country imported inflation without earning the FX to justify it.

Obi’s argument is brutal in its simplicity: no production, no benefit.

Flashback: When Ghana devalued its cedi in 2015, it had a growing cocoa and gold export base to soften the blow. Nigeria had no such cushion.

Interest Rates: Crushing Manufacturing Before It’s Born

“Only the government can borrow at these rates. How will manufacturers survive?” — Obi

In 2025, the benchmark interest rate sits at 27.5%, and commercial lending hovers around 18.49%. For small and medium enterprises, this is death by digits.

True Story: A Lagos-based SME producing solar kits reported in February 2025 that loan servicing costs wiped out 38% of monthly revenue. The firm downsized by 60% in three months.

The broader consequence? Job losses. Import dependency. Stagnant innovation.

The Man vs. the Machine

Peter Obi presents a compelling narrative: a nation lost can be rebuilt. Fast.

But here’s the tension—Nigeria’s decay was rapid because it was deliberate. A culture of impunity, waste, and sabotage drove the nosedive. Reversing it will require more than competence; it will require confrontation. With entrenched power. With old money. With cynicism itself.

Will Nigeria choose hard truth over soft lies in 2027?

Obi is betting the answer is yes. And he’s racing the clock to prove it.

Noteworthy: Fact Checking Peter Obi

Peter Obi’s claim that “If Nigeria collapsed in two years, why can’t we fix it in two?” is rhetorically powerful but overlooks the deeper truth: Nigeria’s decline is not merely the result of two bad years, but the culmination of decades of institutionalized fraud, systemic waste, unchecked abuse, chronic incompetence, overregulation, ballooning debt, runaway inflation, an over-bloated government, and—perhaps most fatally—a consistent absence of caring, accountable leadership and any real sense of urgency. The recent economic crash may have been sudden, but it was built on layers of rot laid over decades. To imply that the same rot can be scrubbed clean in two years, even with the best intentions, risks underestimating the entrenched resistance, bureaucratic inertia, and elite sabotage that have long strangled reform efforts in Nigeria.

DR. MELCHISEDEC BANKOLE

shortgun:
All the lies you guys are peddling against Peter Obi has been debunked many times.
The man keeps telling you to go and verify.

Sharpsharp00123:
so it was a lie that doctors went on strike for 13 months?


So are u saying this is a lie

Thiefobi1:
Peter obi only ambition is for him to be called former president.

He doesn't have a vision or mission just clueless.


He should show us how he applied all these things he is saying in Anambra.

Anybody can say all these things just to win election.

It not a new thing.

shortgun:
The issue has been addressed by His Excellence Peter Obi here.

"It’s an issue I don’t want to discuss, our hospitals were not functioning, we tried to fund health facilities, it wasn’t working, there was strike in education too, we tried to fund our secondary schools and primary schools, it wasn’t working, so we decided that we have to have alternatives when I got to Anambra State, there was no single school of nursing that was accredited, no school of midwifery, no school of health technology – all these were not there.

“The hospitals were in bad conditions, same was the schools, we were putting money and we were not seeing the results, even bought ambulances, they disappeared, so I said no, we have to have an alternative. So we returned schools to the churches, the original owners, and say ‘we will fund you and of course, we saw the results, we moved from number 26 to number 1. The same thing happened with the hospitals, we built 10 schools of nursing, midwifery, and health technology but not through government

“For example, in Iyienu being owned by Church of Nigeria, they have the school of nursing, school of midwifery and school of health technology, we funded and resuscitated it and it was accredited, we went to Onitsha, Waterside being owned by the catholic church and Borromeo, their schools of nursing, school of midwifery, we resuscitated it, they were accredited and are functioning now.

“We went to St. Joseph Adazi, their school of nursing, school of midwifery, school of health technology we resuscitated it and it’s working. We went to Our Lady of Lourdes in Ihial, school of nursing, school of midwifery, school of health technology, we resuscitated it and it’s functional.

“We even worked with one of the Church of Nigeria bishops that were very committed in health issues, Bishop Ikeakor, and set up in Amichi Hospital, we built school of nursing, school of midwifery and school of health technology, these are schools that are there.

“So, in doing this, I had issues with the established bodies because they saw it that I was now doing things to the private sector. For me, the result was important and that was the issues

“During my governorship, I had strikes with teachers, doctors, different groups, but it was trying to change them from being what they used to be to what it should be. When you bring change, you will have enemies – all those who live off the old order, he added.
https://thewhistler.ng/why-doctors-went-on-one-year-strike-during-my-tenure-as-anambra-governor-peter-obi/

shortgun:
Peter is simply saying if things can become this bad in just 2 years then he can make the country work in 2 years also.

mrvitalis:
What did Obi promise?

For me the reason I support Obi is very simple

1) he believes is streamline government to reduce cost of governance.. .. This is his number one appeal why most people love him

2) he promise to fight corruption and I believe he has the attributes to do so.. Even though I prefer systemic corruption fight

I want to make it impossible for people to steal even if they want to

3) obi believes infrastructure can wait.. We only need basic infrastructure for now... Nothing fancy... Just schools, hospitals, repair roads...

Bulk of the money should go to SMEs gather people together to form cooperatives then you give them access to credit after certain conditions are meet

He believes and I also believe this world grow GDP, increase revenue and create massive employment


I don't like the fact he wants foreign investors
I would have preferred 70% SMEs 30% support for big cooperations

I don't like the overly desire to appear frugal n humble... Nigerians dont like humble people

garykoeman:
Are u not the same person who warned us about peter obi years back.

Bobodee09:
Even Jesus christ can't make the country work in 2year if he get elected.

No magic or miracle to achieving that.

mrvitalis:
What exactly did I say about him then?
Did I say he was corrupt?
Did I say he is not not in economy?

The same thing I complained then desire to appear humble I complained now that I don't like... So what exactly is your problem

shortgun:
Any keen observer of Peter Obi will notice that his leadership is based what is known as the Empirical or case study approach in leadership. The empirical or case approach is a method that emphasizes learning from real-life experiences, case studies and past practices to solve current problems and improve decision-making.
Leaders who use this method learn from actual examples of successes or failures in other countries.

These cases provide insight into what worked, what didn’t, and why. This is why you will always find Peter Obi giving examples of what worked in China, Indonesia and other countries and how such approaches can be localized and replicated here.
You don’t need years to find solutions that have already been tested and proven to work elsewhere.

shortgun:
Any keen observer of Peter Obi will notice that his leadership is based what is known as the Empirical or case study approach in leadership. The empirical or case approach is a method that emphasizes learning from real-life experiences, case studies and past practices to solve current problems and improve decision-making.
Leaders who use this method learn from actual examples of successes or failures in other countries.

These cases provide insight into what worked, what didn’t, and why. This is why you will always find Peter Obi giving examples of what worked in China, Indonesia and other countries and how such approaches can be localized and replicated here.
You don’t need years to find solutions that have already been tested and proven to work elsewhere.

Bobodee09:
Even Jesus christ can't make the country work in 2year if he get elected.

No magic or miracle to achieving that.

IGBOPROMISE1:
There are a couple of individuals in politics and governance who stand out for being ruthless and focused in trying to change old habits and entrenched corrupt interests in governance. And they no dey look face while going about it. Peter Obi is one, and i noticed Peter Mbah is another!

There must be something in that name Peter!

Thiefobi1:
Someone u warned us to be careful with, that he lies a lot.

Is the same person u re believing what he says now.

mrvitalis:
So many good doctors lies doesn't make them bad doctors

Based on the people available none is better than Obi

Thiefobi1:
It easier said than done.


How come we never experienced consumption to production in Anambra when he was governor.

Rather we witness importation to obi next supermarket in FCT.

IGBOPROMISE1:
There are a couple of individuals in politics and governance who stand out for being ruthless and focused in trying to change old habits and entrenched corrupt interests in governance. And they no dey look face while going about it. Peter Obi is one, and i noticed Peter Mbah is another!

There must be something in that name Peter!

shortgun:
Peter Obi did alot of good things when he was governor.
He was the first governor in the history of Nigeria to leave billions in savings and investments while leaving office. This includes over $150 million dollar denominated bonds. The Innoson motors you hear today was made possible by Obi's support....
Importation and international trade is actually good for an economy especially a developing one like Nigeria, don't listen to road side economists who think otherwise.