Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sharply criticized former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over recent comments he made about Nigeria during a lecture at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Sanwo-Olu accused Obi of “de-marketing” the country and undermining the efforts of the current administration.
In a statement on Sunday, Sanwo-Olu expressed his disappointment with Obi's "unflattering remarks," saying that prominent Nigerians abroad should project a positive image of the nation rather than criticize it. He emphasized that while Nigerians abroad don’t have to defend the government, they must uphold patriotism by promoting the country's image globally.
Sanwo-Olu specifically took issue with Obi’s criticism of the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, particularly claims that these policies were exacerbating poverty. The governor defended Tinubu’s record, highlighting the President’s previous tenure as Lagos State governor, during which he reduced poverty and built over 200 schools. Sanwo-Olu compared this with Obi’s tenure in Anambra, stating that Obi did not build any significant infrastructure such as schools or hospitals during his eight years in office.
"Mr. Obi talks a good game, but was he able to reduce poverty while he governed Anambra?" Sanwo-Olu queried. He presented data showing that under Obi's leadership, the poverty rate in Anambra increased from 41.4% to 53.7%, whereas his successor, Willie Obiano, managed to reduce the poverty rate to 14.8%.
Sanwo-Olu further questioned Obi’s moral authority to criticize the current administration, asserting that Obi contributed to the rise in poverty during his governorship, while Tinubu’s administration worked to lift millions out of poverty.
The war of words between Sanwo-Olu and Obi has reignited discussions about the governance records of both leaders, with Sanwo-Olu urging Obi to reflect on his own tenure before attacking the government.
