Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has faulted First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s request for birthday donations to complete the National Library in Abuja.
Obi described the request as an indictment of Nigeria’s leadership priorities, highlighting the government’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities.
Obi argued that a nation should not rely on charity to build “the very temple of knowledge” while its leaders spend lavishly on luxuries. He pointed out that it is shocking that in the present circumstances, while billions are easily found for jets, yachts, unused mansions, endless trips abroad, and other frivolities, the nation must rely on birthday donations to complete its own National Library.
The former Anambra governor questioned the priorities of Nigeria’s leaders, asking, “What kind of leaders waste trillions on luxury and vanity, while the National Library our intellectual furnace remains abandoned in the capital?” He emphasized that serious nations treat libraries as sacred, but in Nigeria, they are reduced to afterthoughts, begging bowls, or birthday tokens.
Obi concluded that Nigeria’s progress depends on investing in education rather than vanity projects. He stated, “If Nigeria will rise, it will not be on the wings of jets or the splendor of mansions, but on the strength of minds formed in classrooms and nourished in libraries.” Until then, the lament remains true ”we are finished.”
The criticism underscores the need for Nigeria’s leaders to prioritize education and allocate resources accordingly. By investing in education, Nigeria can build a stronger future for its citizens. The completion of the National Library is seen as a crucial step in promoting education and intellectual development in the country.
