Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said that Nigeria’s disgrace before the world stems from the killings, corruption, and neglect of its citizens, not from what outsiders say about the country.
Speaking at the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Obi urged media professionals to remain steadfast in their role as the conscience of the nation, noting that Nigeria’s moral and developmental decline can only be reversed through truth, sacrifice, and leadership by example.
“Our disgrace as a nation does not come from what others say, but from what we have allowed killings, impunity, corruption, hunger, and the neglect of our people,” Obi said. “True redemption will not come from excuses but from truth, sacrifice, and leadership by example.”
He lamented the worsening state of poverty and education in the country, revealing that over 130 million Nigerians live in poverty while more than 20 million children are out of school.
According to him, these realities should form the core of national discussions rather than political distractions.
Reacting to former US Donald Trump’s comment describing Nigeria as a “disgraced country,” Obi said Trump only echoed what many Nigerians already know that the nation’s moral standing has been eroded by years of bad governance and unchecked violence.
He charged journalists and editors to continue holding leaders accountable, shaping truth, and correcting distortions, emphasizing that their work remains vital to rebuilding public trust and restoring national dignity.
Obi concluded that with transparent, compassionate, and people-oriented leadership, Nigeria can regain its honour and become a nation respected once again.
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