Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, has strongly criticised the Federal Government after First Lady Remi Tinubu called on friends and associates to contribute towards completing the National Library in Abuja as part of her birthday celebration.
Obi described the appeal as a tragic reflection of Nigeria’s misplaced priorities, saying it was disheartening that a country blessed with vast resources now relies on birthday donations to finish a national monument as vital as the library.
In a message shared on X, the Labour Party flagbearer wished the First Lady well but stressed that the gesture, though appearing noble on the surface, exposes the country’s deeper failings. According to him, a nation that can easily raise funds for luxury projects, private jets, and endless foreign trips should not struggle to build an institution that embodies knowledge and intellectual growth.
“On the surface, it may look selfless and admirable, but beneath it lies an indictment of our nation. We are finished,” Obi declared.
He recalled how, during his tenure as governor, he often encouraged supporters to divert birthday adverts and congratulatory gestures towards meaningful projects such as schools and classrooms. However, he made it clear that such contributions were never meant to replace the core duties of government.
Expressing disbelief, Obi questioned why a country that spends billions on extravagance continues to abandon its National Library. “What kind of nation must beg for charity to build the very temple of knowledge? What kind of leaders lavish trillions on vanity while our intellectual foundation decays in the capital?” he asked.
While acknowledging the First Lady’s recognition of education as a priority, Obi insisted that the reality remains troubling. He argued that Nigeria continues to elevate vanity above knowledge, a choice that has kept the nation stagnant for decades.
“If Nigeria must rise again, it will not be through the splendour of mansions or the wings of jets. It will only happen through the strength of minds trained in classrooms and nourished in libraries. Until that day comes, the painful truth remains we are finished,” Obi said.
