Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, has criticized Peter Obi, the candidate for president of the Labour Party and a former governor of Anambra State, for remarks he made about Nigeria while recently visiting Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Accusing Obi of making “disparaging remarks” about the country, Sanwo-Olu said in a statement on Sunday that well-known Nigerians who travel overseas ought to enhance rather than “de-market” the country. According to the governor, “He made the disparaging remarks about Nigeria and not just the current Nigerian government.”
Additionally, I find Mr. Obi’s behavior pattern unsettling. Prominent Nigerians should represent Nigeria favorably when they travel abroad. The government does not require them to do that. Instead of de-marketing Nigeria, we all have a responsibility to promote her internationally. That is the essence of genuine patriotism. 0:00 / 0:00 Vehicle Removed from Ojodu Building Collapse Site
Responding specifically to Obi’s criticism of the current administration’s economic policies and claims that they were worsening poverty, Sanwo-Olu defended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts, noting that Tinubu had a track record of reducing poverty when he governed Lagos State between 1999 and 2007.
“Now, I find it somewhat ironic that a man like Mr Obi, who did not build a single school or a stand-alone hospital throughout his eight-year tenure as Governor of Anambra or sustainably provide credit facilities, would criticise the Government of Nigeria, which is actively doing that.
“I say this because the President of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is my predecessor, and as Governor of Lagos and now President of Nigeria, has built over 200 schools and provided student loans to more than 200,000 undergraduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu also challenged Obi’s record, claiming that poverty worsened in Anambra during Obi’s time in office
“Mr. Obi talks a good game,” he said. But during his tenure as Anambra’s ruler, was he able to lessen poverty? Maybe we can let the facts do the talking. Poverty in Anambra rose throughout Peter Obi’s two terms as governor. No reduction occurred. The poverty rate in Anambra was 41.4% prior to Thursday, June 14, 2007, when Peter Obi was elected governor. However, the poverty rate in Anambra increased to 53.7% after just two years in government.
But the interesting thing is that five years after Peter Obi left office, his successor, Willie Obiano, reduced the poverty rate in Anambra from almost 60% to 14.8%.”
The governor questioned Obi’s moral standing to criticise the government’s efforts.
“Mr. Obi contributed to the increase in poverty in Nigeria. Governor Tinubu, as he then was, was responsible for lifting millions out of poverty.
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