Our Reporter, Abuja
Leading presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has faulted recent remarks by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suggesting that Nigerians should take comfort in being better off than citizens of some other African countries, including Kenya.
Tinubu, who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State over theweekend, had urged Nigerians to remain patient amid economic reforms, noting that conditions in Nigeria were comparatively better than in certain peer countries. However, Obi, in a robust response, argued that such comparisons risk trivialising the depth of hardship currently faced by Nigerians.
Drawing on religious analogies, Obi likened the President’s position to the biblical parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in the Gospel of Luke, as well as a caution in the Qur’an against self-righteousness. He said downward comparisons without empirical grounding offer little value in addressing economic realities.
Obi also referred to Tinubu’s past campaign remark — “Na statistics we go chop?” — to underscore what he described as a dismissive attitude toward data-driven governance. According to him, statistics remain critical tools for assessing national performance and guiding policy decisions.
Citing a range of development indicators, Obi maintained that Kenya outperforms Nigeria on several fronts. He pointed to data suggesting that Kenya ranks higher on the Human Development Index, with a score of about 0.630 compared to Nigeria’s 0.530, and a ranking of 143rd versus Nigeria’s 164th.
On economic metrics, Obi said Kenya’s GDP per capita stands at roughly $2,200–$2,300, significantly higher than Nigeria’s estimated $800 range. He added that poverty levels in Nigeria are substantially higher, with about 63 per cent of the population affected, compared to roughly 43 per cent in Kenya.
He further noted that life expectancy in Kenya averages about 67 years, while Nigeria’s stands at approximately 54 years. Literacy rates, he said, are also higher in Kenya, estimated between 81 and 85 per cent, compared to Nigeria’s 62 to 65 per cent.
On infrastructure and social indicators, Obi said Kenya has wider electricity access and fewer out-of-school children—about 3.5 million compared to Nigeria’s estimated 20 million. He also highlighted differences in macroeconomic stability, noting that Kenya’s inflation rate has remained relatively moderate in recent years, while Nigeria’s has stayed significantly higher.
According to Obi, exchange rate stability further reflects the disparity, with Kenya’s currency remaining relatively steady against the US dollar, while Nigeria’s naira has experienced sharp depreciation in recent years.
“Comparisons, when properly grounded, are not instruments of escapism but tools of accountability,” Obi said, warning against what he described as “self-consolation” in the face of mounting economic challenges.
The former governor of Anambra State argued that if Kenya is considered to be facing economic difficulties despite its relatively stronger indicators, then Nigeria’s situation is more severe and requires urgent, data-driven policy responses.
Obi called on the Federal Government to adopt a posture of humility and accountability, urging leaders to focus on measurable improvements in citizens’ welfare rather than rhetorical comparisons.
