By Tgnews Reporter, Abuja
In a scathing critique, Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate, has reacted to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s birthday request, which urged well-wishers to forgo lavish gifts and donate toward completing the National Library in Abuja. While extending birthday wishes to Mrs. Tinubu, Obi decried the irony of her appeal, calling it an indictment of Nigeria’s misplaced priorities under the current administration.
In a heartfelt statement, Obi joined millions of Nigerians in wishing the First Lady a happy birthday, praying for her continued health and happiness. However, he expressed dismay at her call for donations to fund the National Library, a project he described as a “temple of knowledge” left abandoned in the nation’s capital. “What kind of country must beg for charity to build the very temple of knowledge?” Obi questioned, highlighting the stark contrast between the government’s lavish expenditures and its neglect of critical public infrastructure.
Obi recalled his tenure as Anambra State Governor, where he similarly redirected funds meant for celebratory adverts toward meaningful projects like school computers and classroom blocks. However, he emphasized that such gestures were meant to complement, not replace, the government’s responsibility to provide essential services. “It is shocking that, while billions are easily found for jets, yachts, unused mansions, and endless trips abroad, the nation must rely on birthday donations to complete its own National Library,” he stated.
What kind of country must beg for charity to build the very temple of knowledge?
The former governor lambasted the administration for squandering trillions on luxuries while neglecting education, which Mrs. Tinubu herself described as the most enduring legacy a nation can offer its people. “To know this truth and still prioritise vanity is both shocking and tragic,” Obi remarked, underscoring the dire state of Nigeria’s intellectual infrastructure.
Obi concluded with a sobering reflection: “If Nigeria will rise, it will not be on the wings of jets or the splendour of mansions, but on the strength of minds formed in classrooms and nourished in libraries.” Until such priorities are embraced, he warned, Nigeria’s lament of “we are finished” will persist.
The First Lady’s office has yet to respond to Obi’s remarks, but the statement has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians echoing his call for accountability and a reprioritization of national resources.
