Telling the Truth Isn’t De-marketing Nigeria” — Peter Obi Fires Back at Critics
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has defended his comments on Nigeria’s challenges, saying speaking the truth is not an attack on the country’s image but a call for national improvement.
Reacting to recent criticisms — notably from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu — Obi stated on Thursday via X that exposing the country’s economic and political realities is essential for growth. He emphasized that truth-telling refines a nation, not destroys it.
Without directly naming Sanwo-Olu, Obi questioned why those who protested during former President Jonathan’s era have gone silent amid today’s worsening conditions, including rising fuel, food prices, and insecurity.
“We are losing lives daily to poverty, insecurity, and hardship. This isn’t the Nigeria our founding heroes dreamed of,” Obi said, calling for integrity in leadership and equal opportunities for all citizens.
Sanwo-Olu had earlier accused Obi of making “disparaging” remarks about Nigeria during a lecture at Johns Hopkins University, urging leaders to speak positively of the nation abroad.
