In a scathing critique that has reignited debates on fiscal responsibility and national priorities, Labour Party flagbearer Peter Obi declared “We’re finished” after First Lady Oluremi Tinubu urged well-wishers to forgo birthday gifts in favor of donations to complete the long-stalled National Library in Abuja.
The 63-year-old former Anambra State governor, known for his no-nonsense takes on governance, fired off the reaction on his official X account Monday morning, framing the First Lady’s selfless gesture as a damning “indictment” of Nigeria’s leadership failures. Mrs. Tinubu, celebrating her 65th birthday today, had earlier announced via media statements that she preferred contributions toward the library project—estimated at billions of naira and mired in delays since its 2011 groundbreaking—over personal tributes like ads or lavish presents. “I want my birthday to be a day of giving back,” she said, highlighting the library’s role in fostering education and literacy.
Obi, however, zeroed in on the irony: “It is both commendable and an indictment that a First Lady must turn her birthday into a fundraiser for a national library.” He lambasted the administration for squandering resources on “jets, yachts, unused mansions, endless trips abroad, and other frivolities,” while a cornerstone institution like the National Library—envisioned as Africa’s premier knowledge hub—languishes incomplete. “What kind of country must beg for charity to build the very temple of knowledge?” Obi wrote. “Serious nations treat libraries as sacred; but here we reduce them to afterthoughts, begging bowls, or birthday tokens.”
He concluded with a stark warning: “Nigeria’s future does not depend on luxury, but on the strength of minds formed in classrooms and nourished in libraries. Until then, we’re finished.”
The post, which has garnered over 50,000 likes and thousands of shares within hours, taps into Obi’s signature blend of economic advocacy and moral outrage—echoing his 2023 campaign mantra of redirecting funds from opulence to development. Supporters flooded his mentions with agreement, one X user posting: “Peter Obi just said what we’re all thinking—how can we fund private jets but not books?” Others praised Mrs. Tinubu’s initiative, calling it a “rare act of humility” in a sea of excess.
Critics, including APC loyalists, accused Obi of politicizing a positive move, with one reply reading: “Turning a good deed into shade? Classic Obi—always campaigning.” The exchange has trended nationwide under #ObiVsFirstLady and #NationalLibraryFund, amplifying calls for transparency on the project’s budget and timeline. The National Library, meant to house over 20 million volumes and serve as a digital archive, has faced repeated funding shortfalls despite federal allocations.
As donations reportedly begin trickling in—bolstered by endorsements from figures like Senate President Godswill Akpabio—this episode underscores Nigeria’s perennial tug-of-war between elite extravagance and public needs. Whether it sparks real action or fades into election-season fodder, Obi’s words have once again positioned him as the opposition’s unflinching conscience. For now, the “temple of knowledge” awaits its birthday miracle.