Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has accused the APC-led government of incompetence and corruption, urging Nigeria to learn from countries that have reduced poverty through evidence-based policies.
Obi made the remarks in a post on X to mark World Statistics Day. He called for the use of reliable data to assess government performance and measure progress in tackling poverty.
“The problem with our incompetent and corrupt APC-led government is the confusion of hubris with leadership,” Obi wrote.
He cited Bangladesh as an example, saying the country lifted about 34 million people out of poverty between 2010 and 2022. He also said its extreme poverty rate fell from 12.2 per cent to 5.6 per cent during the period. According to Obi, Bangladesh made progress through policies that supported agriculture, export-oriented manufacturing, microfinance, social safety nets, human capital development and infrastructure.
He also identified Vietnam, Rwanda, Morocco and India as countries Nigeria could study for lessons in economic and social development.
Obi said Nigeria should use reliable statistics to guide public policy and assess its impact. He argued that the country’s resources should translate into improved living conditions for its citizens.
His comments focused on the role of data in measuring development outcomes and evaluating government decisions.
However, the figures and policy explanations cited in Obi’s post were presented as part of his argument for evidence-based governance. Independent verification would be needed to assess the figures, the factors behind Bangladesh’s poverty reduction and the extent to which its policies could apply to Nigeria.
