Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged Nigerians to use criticism as motivation for national progress following recent remarks by UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, February 4, Obi responded to Badenoch’s statement, where she expressed concerns about Britain becoming as impoverished as Nigeria, citing government failures and self-serving politicians.
Obi questioned how Nigerians should react to such comments, acknowledging that Badenoch’s remarks sparked mixed reactions. While some condemned her words, others saw them as a blunt but accurate reflection of Nigeria’s reality.
“A few years ago, a respected Nigerian newspaper criticized a travel advisory issued to Americans, which painted Nigeria in an unflattering light,” Obi recalled. “The advisory highlighted poor infrastructure, insecurity, and inadequate healthcare as major concerns—issues we, as Nigerians, know to be true.”
He further pointed out that despite Nigeria’s skilled healthcare professionals, the country suffers from a lack of quality medical facilities and an unreliable supply of essential medications, with counterfeits posing a serious risk.
Obi stressed that rather than dismissing such criticism as unpatriotic, Nigerians should see it as a challenge to drive meaningful change.
“International reproach, including Badenoch’s comments, should push us to improve our country rather than resort to blind patriotism. If official websites warn against investing or traveling to Nigeria, how can we expect to attract investors?” he asked.
Calling for a renewed commitment to national development, Obi concluded: “These painful rebukes—especially from our own—should inspire us to build a Nigeria that is truly POssible.”