Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has responded to recent comments made by former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
During his address, Obi criticised not only the current Nigerian government but also the country itself, describing rising poverty levels and expressing concern over the administration’s economic policies.
Reacting, Sanwo-Olu in a statement on his X page on Monday described Obi’s remarks as ‘disparaging’.
He stressed that while Nigerians abroad need not defend any government, they have a patriotic duty to present Nigeria positively on the global stage.
“True patriotism demands that prominent Nigerians project our country in a positive light internationally, irrespective of their political leanings,” Sanwo-Olu said.
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Focusing on the issue of poverty raised by Obi, the governor questioned his moral authority to criticise the federal government’s efforts, highlighting Obi’s record during his time as governor.
Sanwo-Olu pointed out that, during Obi’s eight-year tenure, no standalone schools or hospitals were built, and sustainable credit facilities were not provided for citizens.
Sanwo-Olu said President Bola Tinubu built over 200 schools as Lagos State governor as a president, introduced student loan programmes benefiting more than 200,000 undergraduates, and provided over half a billion dollars in credit facilities to small and medium-scale enterprises.
Drawing comparisons, the governor noted that while Tinubu reduced poverty in Lagos by more than 46% during his 1999–2007 governorship, Anambra under Obi experienced an increase in poverty.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the poverty rate in Anambra rose from 41.4% in 2007 to 53.7% two years into Obi’s administration.
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He further stated that it was only after Obi’s tenure that his successor, Governor Willie Obiano, reduced Anambra’s poverty rate to 14.8%.
“Mr Obi talks a good game,” Sanwo-Olu said, “but the facts show that during his time as governor, poverty in Anambra increased, whereas President Tinubu, during and after his time as governor of Lagos lifted millions out of poverty.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu questioned Obi’s credibility in criticising Nigeria’s current leadership on the issue of poverty, suggesting that his own record weakens his arguments.
