Peter Obi criticizes the federal government for abandoning the National Library project in Abuja, calling it a “national disgrace.”
He praises First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s birthday appeal but says education must be prioritized over luxury.
Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized the federal government for abandoning the National Library project in Abuja, calling the situation a “national disgrace.”
In a statement released on Sunday, Obi joined Nigerians in congratulating First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu on her birthday and commended her request that well-wishers donate towards completing the National Library rather than spending on celebratory gifts. While praising the gesture as selfless, he said it also revealed how misplaced Nigeria’s priorities had become.
Obi questioned why a country of Nigeria’s size and resources would rely on public charity to complete such a vital institution, contrasting this with the government’s spending on what he described as non-essential luxuries. He noted that during his tenure as governor, he encouraged supporters to fund computers and classrooms rather than extravagant billboards, but emphasized such acts should complement not replace government responsibility.
He lamented that while resources were readily available for aircraft, foreign trips and luxury projects, key educational infrastructure like the National Library continued to deteriorate. According to him, Mrs. Tinubu’s birthday appeal underscores the importance of investing in knowledge and learning as the most enduring legacy any nation can offer its citizens.
Obi concluded by urging leaders to prioritize education over extravagance, warning that Nigeria’s future rests on classrooms, libraries and investment in learning rather than luxury and waste.
