Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has described January as a deeply troubling month for Nigerians.
The ex-Anambra governor lamented worsening insecurity, failing public services, and President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged absence from the country as part of what affected the month for Nigerians.
Obi shared his concerns in a post on X on Saturday.
He said the country’s condition after just one month paints a worrying picture of what lies ahead.
Insecurity Deepens Nationwide
According to Obi, insecurity surged sharply in January.
He said Nigerians witnessed multiple killings across the country.
In addition, the month recorded hundreds of kidnappings and abductions.
Victims included children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
Meanwhile, abductors demanded millions of naira in ransom, worsening the pain of affected families.
As a result, Obi said many farmers remain unable to return to their farms.
Consequently, food shortages and rural poverty continue to rise.
Education System Under Strain
Obi also raised alarm over the state of education.
He described the sector as one of the hardest hit.
He said millions of children remain out of school nationwide.
At the same time, many students cannot attend classes due to insecurity and teachers’ strikes.
Notably, Obi criticised the situation in Abuja.
“Public schools in the nation’s capital remain closed,” he said.
According to him, the closures are troubling given the federal government’s spending priorities.
He pointed to billions of naira spent on renovating a conference centre and building bus terminals.
As a result, Obi questioned whether leaders truly understand the importance of education.
Power Supply Fails Again
Furthermore, Obi highlighted Nigeria’s electricity crisis.
He said the country already ranks among those with the worst access to power.
Despite this, Nigeria recorded two national grid collapses in January alone.
In his view, the repeated failures show deep structural weaknesses in the power sector.
Obi Queries Tinubu’s Foreign Trips
Turning to leadership priorities, Obi criticised President Bola Tinubu’s foreign travels.
He said leaders in other countries usually focus on domestic issues in January.
However, Tinubu spent much of the month outside Nigeria.
According to Obi, the president spent 23 days abroad across two trips.
He said Tinubu returned on January 17.
Less than ten days later, he departed again on January 26 for Türkiye.
As of January 31, the president remained outside the country.
Obi questioned the urgency of the trips.
He asked why pressing national problems did not demand the president’s full attention at home.
Politics Over Governance
Ultimately, Obi said the combined effects of insecurity, economic hardship, failing infrastructure and social disruption paint a grim picture.
He accused much of the political class of prioritising power struggles and election calculations.
In particular, Obi criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He said the party appears more focused on rallies and welcoming defectors.
Meanwhile, he noted that failing institutions and citizens’ daily struggles receive little attention.
According to Obi, without a shift in priorities, January’s distress may define the months ahead.
