Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, says he feels annoyed when he sees people in public office celebrating.

In an interaction with journalists in Lagos on Sunday, Obi wondered what these leaders were celebrating, saying the quality of political leaders in the country today was too low.

Noting that most of the states had collapsed, Obi expressed dismay at the barrage of awards some organisations give to governors. 

"A certain governor even went on CNN to advertise his award, which ran for up to 10 times," he observed.

"Even the governors who are owing salaries are receiving awards. We need to stop that.”

According to the former Governor, Nigeria is not supposed to be where it is today and the various agitations ongoing were the result of leadership failure over the years.

He said whenever he cautioned about the cost of governance, "people don’t listen." 

According to him, Emirates Airline came to buy planes from Nigeria Airways. 

"When they couldn’t do that, they went to Pakistan. Today, Emirates is one of the leading airlines in the world, while Nigeria Airways is no more."

Obi lamented that in 2007 when Nigeria’s debt was written off, the country was owing $30 billion. But 10 years after, Nigeria is owing $59 billion.

Answering a question on multiple exchange rate, Obi said the policy showed incompetence and that complaints about marginalisation was because the economy had not been expanded. 

"The more you expand the economy," he noted, "the less the agitation. If we have a good Nigeria, everybody will be happy.”

Obi also used the occasion to slam a former Governor of Yobe State and current Senator representing the eastern part of the state, Bukar Ibrahim for saying he had not committed any official offence being found in amorous position with two women in a hotel room. Ibrahim, who signed the Sharia law while he was Governor, said his alleged action was a personal, private matter.

Obi fumed: “He should have left the Senate to live his private life. You can’t answer distinguished Senator when you are undistinguished.”

News Express