Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the birthday appeal made by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The First Lady, during her recent birthday celebration, requested that instead of well-wishers showering her with expensive gifts, cakes, or newspaper adverts, such gestures should be directed toward the completion of the National Library in Abuja. While many Nigerians initially saw her request as a noble and selfless act, Peter Obi expressed deep disappointment, arguing that it reflects poorly on the government’s priorities. According to him, a nation as vast and resource-rich as Nigeria should not rely on birthday contributions to complete a national treasure such as the library. Obi condemned the fact that billions of naira and millions of dollars are wasted on luxury items, frequent international trips, private jets, and yachts, while the National Library—a vital intellectual institution—remains incomplete. In a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter) titled “We Are Finished”, Obi wished the First Lady many more fruitful and healthy years but said the irony of her request underscores Nigeria’s tragic decline in governance. He wrote: “We are finished! I join millions of Nigerians in wishing Her Excellency, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, a happy birthday. May God grant her many more years in good health and fulfillment. However, I was struck by irony reading her request: that instead of birthday cakes or adverts, friends and well-wishers should donate toward completing the National Library in Abuja. On the surface, it seems noble, but beneath it lies a painful indictment of our country.” Obi recalled that during his tenure as governor, he encouraged redirecting funds meant for newspaper adverts into meaningful projects such as providing computers to schools and building classroom blocks. However, he stressed that such gestures were complementary efforts, not replacements for the fundamental responsibilities of government. He questioned why a government that could find billions for jets, yachts, unused properties, and endless foreign travels could not prioritize the completion of the nation’s intellectual foundation—the National Library. “What type of country begs for charity to complete its temple of knowledge?” Obi asked. “What leaders would rather spend trillions on luxury while the National Library, our intellectual furnace, remains abandoned?” Obi emphasized that serious nations treat education and libraries as sacred institutions. He noted that while Mrs. Tinubu was right in saying education is the most enduring legacy for any nation, it is disheartening to acknowledge this truth and still continue to prioritize vanity over substance. Concluding, Obi maintained that Nigeria will only rise through strong educational systems and properly funded libraries—not through the extravagance of jets or mansions. “If Nigeria must rise, it will be through the power of classrooms and libraries that shape the minds of our future leaders. Until then, the lamentation remains—we are finished.”
