Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of eroding the democratic and economic legacies built by previous civilian administrations.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, Obi said the country had once been on a clear path to global recognition following independence in 1960 but has since suffered severe setbacks under APC leadership.
He argued that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which governed for 16 years after the return to democracy in 1999, achieved significant milestones that have since been reversed. Among these, he recalled debt relief secured under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nigeria’s rise to become Africa’s largest economy under Goodluck Jonathan.
Obi lamented that Nigeria’s total debt has now risen to about ₦175 trillion—nearly 50 percent of GDP—while poverty, hunger, and insecurity have worsened. He accused the APC of prioritising wasteful spending on luxury projects over investments in healthcare, education, and infrastructure, noting that millions of Nigerians have fallen into acute poverty under its watch.
“Over the last decade, under the APC’s incompetent, divisive, and corrupt leadership, Nigeria has been greatly diminished,” Obi said. “Much of this decline is due to the neglect of the legacies of previous administrations.”
Despite his criticisms, Obi maintained optimism, stressing that Nigeria could recover with competent and accountable leadership. He called for prudent economic management, investment in human capital, and people-centered governance, insisting that Nigeria still has the resources and resilience to return to prosperity.
Source:Africa Publicity
