By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has launched a blistering attack on former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, for what he called “disparaging” and “unpatriotic” remarks about Nigeria during a speech at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
In a hard-hitting statement, Sanwo-Olu accused Obi of damaging Nigeria’s image abroad and questioned his moral right to criticise the current administration, labelling his comments “deeply disturbing” and “hypocritical.”
“I find Mr. Obi’s pattern of behaviour disturbing,” Sanwo-Olu declared. “When prominent Nigerians go overseas, they ought to project Nigeria positively. They do not have to do that for the government. But we all owe a duty to market Nigeria on the global stage rather than de-market her. That is what true patriotism is about.”
Firing back at Obi’s claims that President Bola Tinubu’s policies are making Nigerians poorer, Sanwo-Olu said it was 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.”
Drawing sharp contrasts between Tinubu’s achievements and Obi’s record, Sanwo-Olu stated: “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 continued: “In less than two years, he has provided over half a billion dollars in credit facilities to small and medium-scale enterprises.”
Highlighting Tinubu’s past success, Sanwo-Olu pointed out: “While he was Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, the President reduced poverty by more than 46%. There is every reason to believe that, based on what he did as Governor of Lagos, he will repeat the same feat at the federal level. After all, the best predictor of the future is the past.”
Turning the spotlight on Obi’s own tenure, Sanwo-Olu pulled no punches: “Mr. Obi talks a good game. But was he able to reduce poverty while he governed Anambra? Perhaps we can let the facts speak for themselves.”
Laying out the stark numbers, Sanwo-Olu revealed: “Before Peter Obi became Anambra Governor on Thursday, June 14, 2007, the poverty rate in Anambra was 41.4%. But after only two years in office, the poverty rate in Anambra jumped to 53.7%.”
He further noted: “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%.”
Sanwo-Olu then posed a damning question: “As such, I am not sure that Mr. Obi is morally well placed to make the alarming claims he made about Nigeria at Johns Hopkins.”
Driving the final nail in, Sanwo-Olu declared: “Mr. Obi contributed to the increase in poverty in Nigeria. Governor Tinubu, as he then was, was responsible for lifting millions out of poverty. Being that that is the case, who should criticise who?”
The Governor’s fiery rebuke has ignited fresh debate across the country over the responsibility of political leaders when speaking abroad and whether Mr. Obi’s harsh words were truly patriotic or dangerously reckless.
