Peter Obi speaks on political leadership, says Nigeria can’t be governed like a reality show

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly criticized Nigeria’s political leadership, describing it as an “embarrassing spectacle” that prioritizes trivialities over the nation’s pressing crises.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Obi lamented that while Nigeria grapples with extreme poverty, rising insecurity, and an education crisis, leaders remain distracted by controversies such as budget padding, sexual harassment allegations, and judicial rulings that threaten stability.

He specifically called out the three arms of government—the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary—for what he described as a failure to focus on governance. He condemned the display of “negative power” in Osun State, a judicial ruling in Rivers State that could destabilize democracy, and the budget scandal rocking the National Assembly.

Obi warned that the blatant disregard for governance was a “grave disservice” to millions of suffering Nigerians. He decried the trend of politicians defecting to other parties for personal gain and urged the leadership of all government arms to take urgent steps to stabilize the country.

“The reckless neglect of serious governance is a betrayal of the people’s trust,” Obi stated. “Nigeria cannot afford to be governed like a reality TV show while millions suffer.”

He emphasized the need for leadership rooted in “character, competence, capacity, consistency, compassion, and urgency”—one that prioritizes education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation over political theatrics.

Ending his statement with a call for change, Obi reiterated his belief that “A new Nigeria is possible.”