By Tony Okafor, Agulu
Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has stated that creating more states is not the solution to Nigeria’s numerous challenges.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Obi maintained that the creation of additional states would only multiply the country’s problems rather than solve them.
Obi’s comments come amid renewed debate over the agitation for state creation across Nigeria.
According to him, the nation must first address fundamental issues such as poor leadership, corruption, insecurity, and economic mismanagement before considering any structural expansion.
“The problem is not about how many states we have,” Obi said. “It is about how effectively we are governed.”
The former governor emphasized the need to focus on rebuilding the economy through diversification, industrial growth, and prudent governance.
He reiterated his long-standing advocacy for leadership anchored on competence, accountability, and transparency.
In his 2023 presidential manifesto, Obi proposed an economic restructuring model that would enable states to harness their comparative advantages and become productive contributors to the national economy, rather than remain dependent on federal allocations.
“What Nigeria needs is leadership that works — leadership that fights corruption, secures the nation, and creates an environment where people can thrive,” he said.
Obi stressed that any discussion on creating new states without first resolving the core issues of governance, security, and productivity amounts to “a distraction from the real problems confronting the nation.”
On the forthcoming Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 8, Obi urged all candidates to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and credible process.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party (LP) and cautioned against vote-buying, insisting that only the most competent candidate should emerge.
“I have good relationships with all the candidates in the election, but I’m supporting Chief George Moghalu because I believe he has more compassion for the people than others,” Obi said. “However, I will not buy votes. Why should I buy votes? If people don’t like me, let them vote for whoever they prefer.”
On the reported internal issues within the coalition, Obi advised the ADC and its allies to prioritize unity and fairness in zoning party positions to avoid internal crisis.
“The coalition must learn to exist without crisis,” he said. “It should zone its offices appropriately, otherwise it will continue to create confusion and division.”
