Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised Nigeria’s political class, describing politicians as the “number one Goliath” holding the country back.
Obi made the remarks on Tuesday at an event in Abuja, where he referenced the argument in Why Nations Fail, co-authored by economist James A. Robinson, which explores why some nations prosper while others remain poor.
Quoting the book’s central idea, Obi said many nations are aware of the policies needed for development but often fail to implement them due to entrenched political interests.
“As a Nigerian, the number one Goliath in your life today is we the politicians,” Obi said. “So many nations know what to do to succeed, but they refuse to do it. An example of such a nation is Nigeria.”
He added that Nigeria’s persistent challenges are not due to lack of ideas or solutions, but a failure of leadership and political will to implement reforms that benefit the wider population.
