Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, has voiced his frustration over the recent national grid collapse, describing it as a sign of the government’s inability to drive effective transformation in Nigeria. Highlighting the power disparity, Obi pointed out that South Africa, with only a fraction of Nigeria’s population, generates about 40,000 MW of electricity, while Nigeria struggles to produce just 10% of that amount.
Following another nationwide blackout on Tuesday, confirmed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Obi addressed the issue on social media, urging Nigerians to prioritize competence and vision over tribal and religious biases when selecting leaders. He stressed that Nigeria’s energy crisis and other challenges require a commitment to progress and the courage to elect leaders focused on development.
In his statement, Obi emphasized the need for leaders who can transform Nigeria from a consumption-based economy to a production-focused one. He pointed to South Africa’s recent success—seven months of uninterrupted power—as a benchmark, underscoring the urgent need for increased investment in critical sectors like health, education, and electricity to improve citizens’ quality of life.
He called on Nigerians to move beyond “primordial sentiments” and instead choose leaders who will invest wisely, lift people out of poverty, and work towards a reliable and expanded power supply.
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