Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has sharply criticised First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s recent appeal asking well‑wishers to donate toward completing the National Library in Abuja in lieu of birthday gifts or newspaper adverts. He described the request as a stark reflection of Nigeria’s misplaced priorities.
While opening his message with warm birthday wishes, Obi said that although the First Lady’s gesture appears “noble and selfless on the surface,” it exposes a deeper problem: that essential national infrastructure often depends on charity because those in government choose to prioritise extravagance.
Obi pointed out that the National Library project has been abandoned for years despite multiple budget allocations, yet now, in 2025, the government is requesting donors to fund its completion. He called this both “shocking and tragic.”
“What kind of country must beg for charity to build the very temple of knowledge?” Obi asked. He argued that serious nations regard libraries as sacred spaces, guardians of culture and knowledge, not relics of neglect reduced to “afterthoughts, begging bowls, or birthday tokens.”
Obi contrasted where government funds seem to easily flow — luxurious jets, foreign trips, unused mansions, holidays abroad — with how little has been done for key intellectual infrastructure such as the National Library.
He also underscored that while such appeals are sometimes made in states and by private individuals, they are meant to *supplement*, not replace, the duties of government. According to him, governments should not abdicate responsibility under the guise of humility or public‑spiritedness.
Obi’s remark “We are finished!” was intended as a wake‑up call. He said that Nigeria’s future depends not on grand displays of wealth or political symbolism, but on genuine investment in education, libraries, classrooms, and minds.
Not everyone agreed with Obi’s comment. Some Nigerians defended the First Lady, viewing her request as an act of humility and a positive example of using one’s birthday celebration to support national causes. They argue the appeal reflects a shift toward more meaningful birthdays rather than lavish celebrations.
Others, however, supported Obi, saying his criticism brings necessary attention to neglect in the country’s educational infrastructure. They believe Nigeria must shift from depending on donations toward fulfilling its own obligations to its citizens.
As of now, the First Lady’s office has yet to issue a public response to Obi’s critique. The debate has intensified on social media, with many calling for clearer government accountability and more transparent budgeting to ensure that critical national institutions like the library are not left to suffer from neglect
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