Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate and ex-governor of Anambra State, has criticized First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s recent birthday request.
On her birthday, Mrs Tinubu asked that instead of giving her gifts or placing adverts in newspapers, well-wishers should donate money to help complete the National Library in Abuja.
Obi, however, said the idea was wrong. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he argued that a country like Nigeria should not depend on birthday donations to finish a national project. He described the situation as “shocking and tragic.”
He pointed out that while the government spends heavily on jets, yachts, mansions, and endless foreign trips, the National Library has been abandoned for years. He said this shows misplaced priorities.
Obi compared the situation with his time as governor, when he encouraged people to support schools with resources like computers, but the state still fulfilled its responsibilities.
He stressed that private contributions should only complement, not replace, government duties.
The Labour Party leader lamented that Nigeria now has to “beg for charity” to build “the temple of knowledge.” He said serious nations treat libraries as sacred institutions, but Nigeria has reduced them to “afterthoughts or birthday tokens.”
Obi concluded that if Nigeria is to progress, it will not be through luxury spending but by investing in education and knowledge.
“We are finished,” he wrote, adding that Nigeria must rise through strong minds developed in schools and nourished in libraries, not through wasteful spending on luxury.
