Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has defended his public remarks about Nigeria’s challenges, saying they reflect the country’s harsh realities rather than an effort to tarnish its global image.

Speaking on Wednesday at the memorial lecture honoring Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), in Abuja, Obi responded to recent criticisms that his comments at international events portray Nigeria negatively.

In April, Obi drew backlash after stating that Nigeria has more poor people than Indonesia, China, and Vietnam. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu accused him of a “disturbing pattern” of behavior that undermines the nation, while Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Segun Sowunmi called Obi’s analyses skewed.

Pushing back, Obi argued that global institutions have validated his concerns.
“I spoke a few days ago, and some people said I am demarketing Nigeria,” Obi said.
“But the World Bank has just shown that 75% of Nigerians in rural areas are poor. Is the World Bank demarketing Nigeria?
UNICEF two days ago announced that Nigeria now has over 2 million malnourished children, the second highest in the world. Are they demarketing Nigeria?”

The former Anambra State governor lamented that the sacrifices of Nigeria’s past leaders have been “in vain,” insisting the country has drifted into poor governance and away from its core democratic values.