Between 1981 and 2015, China accomplished what many developing nations only dream of—lifting over 850 million people out of extreme poverty. That’s not a typo. From a staggering 88% poverty rate, they dropped to just 0.7% in three and a half decades. The kicker? They did it without stretching a beggar’s bowl to the IMF or World Bank. No lifelines. No bailout crumbs. Just sheer discipline, vision, and unapologetic nationalism.
While African countries continue to borrow for imported “solutions,” China was busy building from within. They channeled billions into Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)—not endless “capacity building” seminars and Abuja hotel conferences. Corrupt politicians weren’t just probed or suspended; they were executed. Corruption in China became a fast track to the grave, not a stepping stone to Senate seats.
Rather than outsource their future, the Chinese created Special Economic Zones (SEZs)—industrial wonderlands that attracted foreign investors like ants to sugar. They didn’t wait for global pity; they became a global powerhouse. Cities like Shenzhen went from fishing villages to mega-metropolises with populations of over 20 million, backed by sustained GDP growth of 8.7% per annum for 15 consecutive years.
They also deployed poverty workers—boots on the ground assigned to specific rural communities, not bureaucrats giving PowerPoint presentations in capital cities. China solved Chinese problems with Chinese ideas. No imported blueprints, no Western consultants collecting fat checks to regurgitate generic nonsense.
Now contrast that with Nigeria in 2025. We have a President who borrows billions to distribute N8,000 palliatives and fuel a bloated political class. Our youth are stuck on “JAPA” mode, our public universities remain shut half the year, and our roads, schools, and hospitals are one rainfall away from collapse. We are addicted to debt—over ₦97 trillion in public debt and counting—with nothing tangible to show.
Imagine if Nigeria had a leader with the self-restraint, transparency, and courage to replicate even a fraction of China’s model. A leader like Peter Obi, whose records—despite fierce scrutiny—remain spotless. No offshore scandals. No padded contracts. No billion-dollar holes in the state treasury.
Peter Obi is not perfect, but in a system built to reward thieves and punish thinkers, he’s the anomaly we desperately need. He represents what China had: discipline, strategy, and sincerity of purpose.
Bola Tinubu? He’s playing Monopoly with Nigeria’s destiny—stacking hotels on Boardwalk while ordinary citizens can’t afford bread.
If we truly want to change Nigeria’s story, the choice is clear: Discipline, not drama. Execution, not excuses. Progress, not palliatives!
