The MARITIMER who never went to SEA

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Worsening Leadership Crisis in the Country Now Evident

The ultimate cost of uncompassionate leadership, as evident in the country today, is turning citizens’ frustration into deep, volatile resentment. It is even more traumatising when the leader presiding over that collapse demonstrates clear incapacity and a lack of compassion.

The government and people of Oyo State, more than 50 days after the abduction of the schoolchildren without any tangible effort toward their rescue, should rightly feel bitter and abandoned.

Since this unfortunate incident, I have spoken publicly about it twice, including appealing directly to the kidnappers to release the children. I also called the Governor twice to assure him of my solidarity, understanding that this issue is not just an Oyo problem but a Nigerian tragedy.

On Friday, July 3, I decided to travel to Ibadan with Prof. Pat Utomi to express solidarity with the Governor, as more than 50 days had elapsed without the rescue of the children and with numerous others still being held captive across the country.

During our two-hour meeting, I shared my experience in addressing insecurity as Governor of Anambra State. I recalled how President Olusegun Obasanjo, and later Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, would personally call us several times whenever we faced major security challenges.

But, to my utmost shock, I discovered that, contrary to my assumption that they had been in regular communication over the matter, Governor Seyi Makinde had not received a single call from President Bola Tinubu.

I remember the only case of a school kidnapping during President Goodluck Jonathan’s era - the Chibok girls. It drew local and international attention. Even though the security agencies provided almost daily updates on their efforts, Nigerians and the rest of the world were outraged that it took President Jonathan over two weeks to call the then State chief Executive.

I vividly recall that the current President, Bola Tinubu, led a team of vocal critics who called for President Jonathan’s immediate resignation over the incident, citing his delay in calling the state governor. That call for IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION should actually be the case in this matter.

Today, under President Tinubu, there have been more than 13 school kidnappings, yet the President has found it difficult to call the affected state’s chief executive after more than 50 days (over 7 weeks). This is outrageous. I suspect the same may also have been the case in other school kidnapping incidents.

I cannot imagine any issue more important than the lives of our kidnapped children, their teachers, and the many other Nigerians being held captive across the country. It is now an indisputable fact that governance has completely collapsed under this administration.

The situation reflects a total lack of capacity and compassion, compounded by glaring insensitivity.

Amid such an apparent display of incompetence, the President should either resign or, at the very least, abstain from seeking re-election for the sake of our dear country. This call is patriotic, not political. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Grand Corruption: Nigeria’s Greatest Threat.

The recent report from the IMF consultation further raises concerns about the scale of grand corruption under the Tinubu government. The IMF now reveals that about N8.83 trillion in expenditure undertaken in 2025 is not reflected in the budget. This expenditure is not budgeted and is therefore not under legislative oversight or administrative scrutiny. This is horrible.

N8.83 trillion is as follows:

1.About 2% of our GDP.

2.Over 35% of Nigeria’s 2025 N23.96 trillion capital project budget. In fact, the amount is more than the actual released capital funding for 2025.

https://t.co/Hta3LViCB8 is more than the entire combined budget for education (N3.52 trillion) and health (N2.38 trillion).

If such an amount is properly used and accounted for, it could transform Nigeria’s public health and education sectors. It could create hundreds of cottage industries that can provide jobs for thousands of graduates and build a solid foundation for economic development. But we cannot account for it. This is not an isolated incident.

This is a pattern of grand corruption that has become part of this administration.
We have a lot to worry about regarding the state of corruption under President Tinubu. The sort of corruption that is ingrained in total disregard of elementary rules of public finance management poses a grave danger to national security and the stability of the Nigerian state. The capture of the Nigerian state and the plunder of its resources are actions that undermine the basis of state stability and deepen poverty and state failure.

This recent revelation proves that the APC government is grossly corrupt, incompetent, and insensitive. With the growing poverty and the urgent need for significant upgrades to social and physical infrastructure, a responsible and responsive government would ensure that N8.83 trillion is prudently utilised to address these gaps. But not the Tinubu administration.

A few days ago, I called on President Tinubu to resign from office for incompetence, lack of capacity, lack of compassion, and failure to improve on his campaign promises. Some people thought perhaps the call was excessive. But with the daily revelations of pervasive corruption in this administration and its total lack of commitment to the welfare and security of Nigerian citizens, the only reasonable action is for President Tinubu to resign from office. The collapse of elementary forms of due process under Tinubu and the increased evidence of rampant looting of Nigerian public finances reinforce the need for greater accountability. It is now time for Nigerian citizens to rise within the law and hold this administration to account.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

My Vision for a Productive and Prosperous Nigeria

Today, being the 1st of July, 2026, I wish to humbly recall that when I decided to contest for the office of President of Nigeria, I pledged to place Nigeria on the path of unity and national transformation. Now, as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, I will, in the coming weeks and months, provide insights into the roadmap that I am confident will help curb abuse in government, halt the decline in the quality of life of Nigerians at all levels, and usher in an era of unity, peace, sustained progress, and prosperity.

This vision is anchored on a commitment to unity, inclusion, social justice, equity, and the freedom of every citizen to pursue lawful dreams.

Central to this proposed roadmap are significant reforms in education and healthcare, which are at the core of human capital development.

Robust human capital is indispensable infrastructure for national progress. It serves as the fundamental capital upon which daily life, economic expansion, and the delivery of essential public services depend.

These are foundational areas that we must reform with energy and determination if we are to reap the demographic dividend of our youthful population.

From the outset of my presidency, we will establish a task force dedicated to drastically reducing the menace of out-of-school children. We will place greater emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support our drive for massive industrialisation, anchored on our agricultural endowments and value addition across value chains organised around industrial parks to be located in development zones across the geopolitical regions of the country.

Funding and improving the equipment of TVET institutions, through partnerships among government, the private sector, and social entrepreneurs such as faith-based educators, will facilitate apprenticeship opportunities in the private sector, similar to the German dual education system.

The situation in which unemployment remains high while Nigerian entrepreneurs establish businesses elsewhere because skilled labour is scarce must be confronted decisively. Doing so is essential for the common good and for facilitating our transition from a consumption-driven economy to a production-driven one.

Character and civic education, emphasising the values that foster trust - an essential ingredient for enterprise and leadership - as well as shared national values, will receive significant attention within the tripartite approach to governance that we propose.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[The MARITIMER who never went to SEA @RunoAkwikpe]

@Dannysacrosanct @chibzyyyy Which reality reforms? You APC supporters always wanting to engage in intellectual conversations is so baffling.. my friend stick to the niche of fooling and being irremediably stupid which you're known for

[The MARITIMER who never went to SEA @RunoAkwikpe]

@Segun_temiliano @IdrisZekeriJnr Wide aneeemal! What qualities does a great leader have that he doesn't possess?? APC miscreants wanting to indulge in intellectual conversations.. my friend better stick to your niche of fooling and political sycophancy

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

What Truly Should Be Our Priority Now as Leaders of a Nation?

This question has become necessary, given where we are today as a nation and where we are supposed to be.
While completing my INEC nomination form yesterday, Section E, Question 1 caught my attention. It asks: “Have you ever been adjudged a lunatic or been declared a person of unsound mind?” The answer is either Yes or No. That question got me thinking: Can we, as the political leaders of today’s Nigeria, truly say we are exhibiting the characteristics of a sound mind?

When Nigerians, including children and security personnel, are being abducted into the bushes, citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from, and several billions are being siphoned frivolously through non-existent agencies and projects, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?

A sound-minded leadership would have declared these existential challenges a national emergency and immediately mobilised all relevant institutions, security agencies, experts, community leaders, and other critical stakeholders to confront them with urgency and resolve. At a moment like this, the survival, security, and stability of Nigeria must take precedence over every other consideration. This is a time for decisive action, not political calculation or the pursuit of partisan advantage.

Further in the same Section E, Question 6, was: “Have you ever presented a forged certificate to INEC?” Again, the answer is either Yes or No. This raises another important question: Why shouldn’t INEC, in the interest of ensuring that our leaders are exemplary in following the rules and to strengthen public confidence in our electoral process, publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by every candidate seeking elective office?

Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust. Nigeria’s problems are too serious for politics as usual. It is time for leadership defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to service.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[The MARITIMER who never went to SEA @RunoAkwikpe]

@OryHarde @ruffydfire Better use that your dislike to roast corn or start Kuli Kuli business

[The MARITIMER who never went to SEA @RunoAkwikpe]

@Its_Yhettyqueen So make we clap for you??

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Delighted to Return to School of Nursing Sciences, Emekuku, Owerri, Imo State.

In continuation of my itinerant visits to educational and healthcare institutions in the country, yesterday, I visited the School of Nursing Sciences, Holy Rosary Hospital, Emekuku, where I met with the management, staff, and students, and presented a donation of ₦15 million to the institution.

I reminded the students that the world needs them more than they need the world because healthcare is one of humanity’s most fundamental needs. Any nation that truly desires development must invest in the education and training of healthcare professionals, who remain indispensable to the well-being and productivity of society.

I was delighted to inspect the computer laboratory, which I had previously supported, and to witness the remarkable progress the institution has made. It was also encouraging to reflect on other health institutions, such as Iyi-Enu and Borromeo, which I supported over the years and which have now grown into teaching hospitals. Their transformation reinforces my belief that sustained investments in health and education can produce enduring results. I look forward to seeing Holy Rosary Hospital attain the same status.

Our vision must be to build a Nigeria where functional institutions produce competent professionals, where investments are directed to critical sectors that lift people out of poverty, and where every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed. That is how we will build a nation where the son of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[The MARITIMER who never went to SEA @RunoAkwikpe]

@FolaAdu @InibeheEffiong Normal wide aneeemal talk from an irredeemable buffon.. cos what are you even defending??

[The MARITIMER who never went to SEA @RunoAkwikpe]

@OVnotOVI @dontknowJaay @Diokpa_Ifeanyi Odogwu of Olodos! Remove that nose mask so you can start breathing sense into that your dumb skull

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Owning Up to Leadership Failures and Political Responsibility

This morning, I listened to the British Prime Minister’s speech announcing his planned resignation in July. As a keen observer of global politics, my primary interest lies in examining what successful nations do right and the structural factors that cause others to lag or struggle with governance and development.

The Prime Minister’s planned resignation comes amid mounting public frustration over a stagnant economy, a worsening cost-of-living crisis, and a perceived failure to honour key campaign pledges.

Looking inward in our dear country, we can recall our own situation. Before 2015, our President on several occasions championed the call for the then President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over economic hardship and insecurity affecting Nigerians. During the Chibok school kidnapping incident, he demanded the immediate resignation of President Jonathan, arguing that the government had failed in its most fundamental duty of protecting lives.

During the 2023 election campaign, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made several promises, including improved electricity supply. He also challenged the electorate not to vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver on those commitments—particularly in providing stable power, fighting corruption, and improving the welfare of Nigerians.

At present, however, these conditions have worsened. Electricity supply remains unreliable, insecurity has intensified in many areas, including kidnappings, and economic hardship has deepened rather than eased. Similar concerns are reflected across other critical sectors such as security, infrastructure, transportation, and anti-corruption efforts, all of which have regressed. We are in the worst possible condition.

I, therefore, join Nigerians of goodwill in calling for the resignation of the President over monumental failure in governance. Such a gesture would help enthrone a political culture rooted in accountability and responsibility, rather than further entrenching impunity. It would also send a powerful message that public office is a sacred trust, not an entitlement, and help build a society in which future leaders understand that failure carries consequences. Only by ending the culture of impunity can we secure a better future for the society our children will inherit in a New Nigeria that is possible. -PO

[The MARITIMER who never went to SEA @RunoAkwikpe]

@Mrczar_ Unfortunately you can't identify fake drinks because the replica is exact with the original.. from bottle to label and every other external feature. You can only spot the difference with the inside content (liquid) which sometimes is even hard to tell

[The MARITIMER who never went to SEA @RunoAkwikpe]

@shaunimator94 @Seyi__ You're a mad man! Na your papa go fit lace him shoe na... Wide aneeemal

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Coping with the systematic collapse of our institutions.

When the controversy surrounding the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, unfolded, I expressed a concern to a friend: that the greatest damage might not be immediate, but the message it sends about the sanctity and independence of our institutions to the world.

Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure.

Today, many Nigerians have lost confidence in systems that should protect them. Businesses increasingly request that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have greater confidence in those institutions than in our own. That should concern every patriot.

We must never sacrifice our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals. "The federal High Court Judgement ordering the de-registration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man's trust in our legal systems" it should be reversed.

I pledge that we will restore the dignity, independence, and integrity of the Judiciary. The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all.

To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country!

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[The MARITIMER who never went to SEA @RunoAkwikpe]

If you don't give me pussy, I will never ever ever ever ever agree that you like or love me.

You have to give me pussy. Pussy is easy to come by.. so if you give me the pussy you didn't suffer for... ehen!!! I will know you like/love me.

[Miriam Ogbonna @miriamogb]

If you don’t give me money, I will never ever ever ever ever agree that you like or love me.

You have to give me money. Money is hard to come by.. so if you give me the money you suffered for … ehen!!! I will know you like / love me.

[The MARITIMER who never went to SEA @RunoAkwikpe]

@Mr_wayne11 @pbtips_ Lol 😂

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Together Towards the New Nigeria That Is Possible

On this June 12, Democracy Day, I had useful meetings with my partners in the building of the New Nigeria that is Possible: our great party’s National Leader, H.E. Senator Seriake Dickson, and our party’s Vice Presidential candidate, H.E. Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. The NDC, as a party that is barely four months old, despite the challenges, remains the party of the future, and the fruitful discussions at the meetings clearly underscore this fact.

The leaders and members of a committed political family must be willing to make sacrifices and show tolerance and accommodation, even in difficult circumstances. This shared understanding is essential for building trust, strengthening unity, and sustaining the vision we collectively hold for national transformation.

We are all committed to this goal. The NDC remains the vehicle that will convey Nigeria through purposeful, compassionate leadership, with firm commitment to productivity and democratic ideals towards the New Nigeria that is POssible. -PO

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

What June 12 Should Mean to Us Nigerians

Today, we observe a day that should mean a great deal to us as a people who cherish democratic principles. Every year on June 12, the conversation inevitably turns to a critical assessment of the state of our nation. It serves as an annual benchmark for asking important questions: Are our elections today as transparent as they were in 1993? Is the social contract being honoured? Are the institutions of governance truly serving the people?

Ultimately, June 12 is a powerful blend of reflection and aspiration. It honours a fractured past while serving as a constant and foundational reminder of the immense power inherent in the collective democratic will of the Nigerian people.

For us in Nigeria, June 12 is not merely a date on the calendar; it is the emotional and structural bedrock of our modern democratic identity. Officially recognised as Democracy Day, June 12 carries deep historical, political, and social significance, representing both a monumental tragedy and the ultimate triumph of the collective will of the people.

To understand what June 12 means to Nigeria, one must examine its history, its evolution, and its enduring symbolism.

A new era of true democracy is POssible. -PO

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

As the World Cup Begins Without Nigeria

As the World Cup begins today across three nations, I identify with our teeming football followers and urge them not to be despondent that Nigeria is not participating, despite the abundant talent in our land.

Our failure to participate on the global stage is not due to a deficit of talent; it is a direct consequence of a deficit in leadership, planning, and institutional support.

The task of building a better Nigeria rests primarily on the shoulders of the younger generation. Do not watch the World Cup with despair; rather, see it as a reminder of where Nigeria ought to be. We must move our country from being a nation of mere consumers of global entertainment to a nation of proud producers and competitors.

A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO