Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has used Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary to criticise the state of the country, saying its enormous resources have not been translated into improved living conditions for citizens.

Obi, in an Independence Day message posted on X on Thursday, said the anniversary should not be limited to celebration but should serve as an opportunity for Nigerians to honestly assess the country’s progress and direction.

He said Nigeria, despite its abundant human and natural resources, was still confronted by widespread poverty, insecurity, hunger, unemployment, drug abuse and poor human-development indicators.

Obi claimed that more than 140 million Nigerians were living in poverty or severe hardship, while more than 18 million children were out of school.

He also cited insecurity, saying terrorism, banditry and kidnapping continued to threaten lives and livelihoods across the country.

According to him, more than 35 million Nigerians were affected by youth unemployment and underemployment, while he put the prevalence of drug abuse and substance misuse among Nigerians at 14 per cent.

He further cited life expectancy at 54 years, compared with a global average of 74 years, and raised concerns about Nigeria’s infant and maternal mortality rates.

“Despite the enormous promises made by the APC-led government in 2023, our nation continues to face deepening challenges across virtually every critical sector of national life,” Obi said.

He argued that the country’s problems could not be attributed to a lack of resources.

“Our greatest problem is not a lack of resources; it is the failure to convert our enormous resources into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity,” he said.

Obi said the Independence Anniversary should prompt Nigerians to ask three fundamental questions: “Where are we today? Where do we want to be? How do we get from where we are to where we want to be?”

He added that Nigeria should not be regarded as a “cursed” nation, arguing that the country’s current situation was connected to choices made by its leaders and failures that had been tolerated over the years.

“Are we cursed, or have we become the curse through the choices we have made and the failures we have tolerated?” he asked.

“The answer cannot be that Nigeria is cursed. We are a nation immensely endowed and blessed.”

The former governor also recounted his recent visit to Sokoto State alongside Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, where he said they held consultations on insecurity, poverty, out-of-school children, youth unemployment and drug abuse.

According to Obi, the delegation visited an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Ramin Kura in Sokoto metropolis, where he said thousands of women and children were living in difficult conditions after being displaced from their communities.

He said many of the children at the camp lacked access to education, while mothers and children had limited access to basic healthcare.

“These are Nigerians who should be living in their communities, going to school, farming their land, conducting their businesses and contributing to the economy,” Obi said.

“Instead, they live as displaced persons in their own country.”

Obi said the situation at the camp illustrated the consequences of insecurity and poor governance on ordinary Nigerians, particularly children and vulnerable families.

He called for a more deliberate approach to national planning and development, saying Nigeria must move beyond annual Independence Day celebrations and confront the structural problems affecting its citizens.

His assessment came as President Bola Tinubu, in his own 66th Independence Day address, said Nigeria had moved through a difficult reform period and was entering what he described as an “age of prosperity.” Tinubu said his administration had laid the foundation for sustained economic growth and pledged to continue efforts to reduce poverty and improve living conditions.

Obi’s comments were therefore sharply different in emphasis from the Federal Government’s Independence Day message, which highlighted economic reforms and projected improved prosperity ahead.

Obi concluded his message by urging Nigerians not to lose hope in the country, while calling for a national effort to address the challenges confronting citizens.