Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has lamented Nigeria’s regression since former military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) left office in 1992.

In a statement on his X handle, Obi reacted to the launch of Babangida’s autobiography, A Journey in Service, where he acknowledged IBB’s contributions to Nigeria’s economy, particularly in supporting entrepreneurship and private sector growth.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s progress compared to other nations, Obi stated, “The keynote speaker quoted in French, ‘Rien n’a changé’—meaning ‘Nothing much has changed.’ But in Nigeria’s case, we are worse off than we were during IBB’s era. When Babangida left office, countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana were also in the low Human Development Index (HDI) category, just like Nigeria. Today, these nations have advanced to medium and high HDI levels, while Nigeria remains stagnant or has declined.”

Obi also praised Ghana’s democratic progress, contrasting it with Nigeria’s electoral system. He commended IBB for his role in strengthening Nigeria’s financial sector and promoting national unity, adding that documenting historical experiences is crucial for learning.

One of the key moments from the event, according to Obi, was Babangida’s public admission that Chief MKO Abiola won the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election. He described the acknowledgment as “a step toward national healing, unity, and progress,” and expressed hope that other political figures would one day recognize the true winners of past elections.