Human rights activist Francis Nwapa has criticised former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate under the Labour party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, accusing him of failing to publicly oppose policies that have negatively affected the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
Nwapa made the remarks on Thursday in a post published on his Facebook page, where he questioned Obi’s record of activism and argued that the former governor had not been visible in protests addressing key economic and social challenges facing Nigerians.
According to the activist, despite decades of social struggles by workers and civil society groups, he has never seen Obi participate in protests against policies such as electricity tariff increases, rising fuel prices, education commercialization, insecurity, or the growing cost of living, “I have been an activist for almost three decades. I have never seen you protest on issues that affect the living standard of the working people of Nigeria,” Nwapa wrote.
He listed several national issues, including hunger, high electricity tariffs, fuel price hikes, and insecurity as examples of policies and conditions that have worsened the living conditions of many Nigerians.
Nwapa also criticised Obi’s economic positions, claiming they are similar to those promoted by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly on matters such as subsidy removal, currency devaluation, privatization, and the commercialization of education.
According to him, such policies have contributed to economic hardship for many citizens and have weakened the standard of living for working people across the country.
The activist further referenced events during Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State between 2006 and 2014. He alleged that a strike by health workers in the state lasted for about 13 months without adequate government response, a situation he said denied many residents access to public healthcare services.
Nwapa argued that Obi cannot be presented as a progressive alternative to Nigeria’s current political leadership, claiming that many politicians across different parties share similar economic and governance approaches, “You do not represent progress, neither are you an alternative to the current criminals in power,” he wrote, adding that Nigeria needs a political movement built around the interests of working people rather than what he described as the regrouping of existing political elites.
Nwapa’s criticism comes shortly after a protest in Abuja involving several opposition political figures over a leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
On April 8, prominent politicians including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and former Senate President David Mark joined a demonstration in Abuja following a decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove the party’s leadership details from its official website amid an ongoing internal dispute.
The protest drew national attention and triggered debate on social media, with supporters defending the right of politicians to participate in demonstrations while critics questioned the political motivations behind their involvement.
Nwapa’s comments have since fueled further discussions online about the role of political leaders in public protests and the expectations many Nigerians have for politicians seeking to present themselves as alternatives to the current administration.