Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised Nigeria’s leadership after First Lady Oluremi Tinubu urged well-wishers to donate toward completing the long-abandoned National Library project in Abuja, instead of placing birthday adverts or buying cakes.
In a statement marking Mrs Tinubu’s birthday, Obi described her gesture as noble but lamented that it underscored the failure of government priorities. He recalled making similar appeals during his governorship, but noted those were meant to complement—not replace—the state’s duty to provide essentials.
“It is shocking that while billions are easily found for jets, yachts, mansions and endless trips abroad, the nation must now rely on birthday donations to complete its own National Library,” Obi said.
He condemned Nigeria’s leaders for wasting trillions on vanity while education and knowledge infrastructure remain neglected, warning that no country can prosper without strong investment in learning.
“Serious nations treat libraries as sacred; here, we reduce them to afterthoughts and birthday tokens,” he added, stressing that Nigeria’s future depends not on luxury but on “the strength of minds formed in classrooms and nourished in libraries.”
