Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has lamented Nigeria’s exclusion from the recent International Monetary Fund Report on fast-expanding economies in Africa, citing bad leadership and corruption in the country.

“I have read with keen interest the recent IMF report listing Africa’s fastest-growing economies, and I cannot help but reflect on Nigeria’s absence from that list,” Mr Obi wrote on X on Thursday.

Last week, IMF launched Sub-Saharan Africa’s latest Regional Economic Outlook, listing Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda among the world’s top-performing economies, citing their strong growth to fiscal reforms and macroeconomic stability.

Mr Obi said countries included in the report were not richer than Nigeria in natural resources, but had become richer in discipline, leadership, and commitment to improving their people and their human capital.

“They are growing their economies through investing in critical areas of development education, healthcare and pulling people out of poverty, while ensuring fiscal prudence and stability,” he said.

The politician explained that the country’s economy continued to struggle under the weight of poor policy choices, corruption and waste, stressing the need for a return to the basics where production triumphs over consumption, human capital over patronage, and governance over politics.

Emphasising the importance of compassionate and competent leadership, the Labour Party chieftain urged Nigerian leaders to commit to building a nation that values transparency, productivity, and shared prosperity. 

“With the right leadership and collective will, Nigeria can once again become the pride of Africa. If smaller nations can grow their economy through discipline and commitment to clear policy direction, then the giant of Africa must awaken,” Mr Obi noted.