Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, Peter Obi, has decried the high level of insecurity and hardship across Nigeria, describing the country as a “crime scene” in need of urgent fix.

Speaking during the presentation of a book – ‘Obi: The Political Change Agent’, in Abuja on Tuesday, Obi expressed concerns over the hardship Nigeria citizens are facing, implying that although Nigeria is not officially at war, many citizens live like refugees, both inside and outside the country.

“Today in Nigeria, we’re not officially at war, yet Nigerians are living in IDP camps in their own country. Nigerians are refugees in Chad, in Cameroon. And the only reason is because we don’t have a government that cares for them,” he said.

He cautioned on the current system of the country stating it unsustainable and dangerous, urging Nigerian to actively work hard to detach from what is called a crime scene of a country.

“Some people are dancing while the ship is sinking. When it finally goes down, it will consume everyone rich or poor. I’ve seen this before in places like Beirut and Afghanistan. Crisis does not discriminate,” he warned.

He further criticized the nation’s priorities, pointing out that while government buildings are being renovated and parties thrown, women continue to die during childbirth and millions of children remain out of school.

“We use public resources to paint offices and build mansions, while women die trying to give birth. According to a recent report, one woman dies every seven minutes in Nigeria during childbirth. That’s what we want to dismantle,” Obi stated.

The former Anambra State governor emphasized that many of Nigeria’s problems stem from a lack of leadership and value creation.

“Our leaders in government and business are producing poverty. When people hoard money without creating value, they are fueling poverty. A functional economy must be built on the exchange of real value,” he said.

On currency devaluation, Obi supported the idea but stressed the need to eliminate corruption first.

“Yes, I support removing fuel subsidy, but only after removing the criminality in the system. If we build confidence in the market and clean up corruption, the naira will stabilize. It’s happening in Ghana and Angola, why not here?”

He also lamented the collapse of Nigeria’s infrastructure, citing a trip to Kafanchan where he didn’t see a single trailer transporting goods, a sign, he said, of a broken, unproductive economy.

“Colonial masters built railways to move goods cotton, granite, ginger. Today, they’re gone. We have no trains, no trailers, nothing. And we wonder why people are hungry?”

Obi called for a new wave of leadership, especially in the National Assembly, urging voters to elect leaders who are committed to peace and service rather than personal gain.

“We must not allow people who want to make money from politics. If that’s your goal, you are part of the problem,” he declared.

“This time, we will vote. The votes will count. We will be everywhere.”

Obi ended his remarks by thanking supporters and urging them to remain committed to the cause of national transformation.

Earlier, Professor Sam Amadi, former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), described Peter Obi as the ideal leader to spearhead a necessary democratic revolution.

“A successful revolution is defined by democratic civilization and democratic diplomacy. Peter Obi possesses the profile, pedigree, personality, and passion to lead this change,” Amadi said.

He noted that while Nigeria’s challenges are vast, they can be overcome with the right leadership, commitment and collective sacrifice.