Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has fired back at Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, urging him to stop making negative comments about Nigeria on international platforms.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement released on Sunday, expressed disappointment over Obi’s recent remarks at Johns Hopkins University in the United States, where the former Anambra governor criticized the Nigerian government and the country’s economic policies.
According to Sanwo-Olu, such comments do more harm than good. “When we travel abroad as leaders, we owe it to our people to speak positively about Nigeria,” he said. “It’s not about defending the government, but about defending our nation’s image.”
Sanwo-Olu did not hold back, questioning Obi’s track record in Anambra. He pointed out that poverty reportedly increased under Obi’s administration, while claiming that President Bola Tinubu, both as Lagos governor and now president, had a stronger record of poverty reduction and infrastructure development.
“It’s ironic that Mr. Obi, who failed to build a single standalone hospital or school during his tenure, is criticizing an administration that has built over 200 schools and provided student loans to thousands,” Sanwo-Olu remarked.
He also challenged Obi’s claims about poverty. “The facts show that poverty increased in Anambra under Obi’s leadership but dropped significantly after he left office,” the Lagos governor stated.
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Sanwo-Olu concluded by calling on all leaders, regardless of political affiliation, to put Nigeria first when speaking on international stages. “Criticism is welcome, but let’s not de-market our country. We need to sell Nigeria’s potential, not its problems,” he said.
