Obi Highlights Plight Of Nigerian Mothers On Mother’s Day, Calls For Improved Healthcare, Poverty Reduction

Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi used Mother’s Day to honour Nigerian mothers while also highlighting the challenges they face, particularly maternal mortality rates.

In a statement issued earlier today, Obi praised all mothers in Nigeria for their “motherly love, selfless sacrifices, and maternal care,” citing their “immeasurable contributions” to families, communities, and the nation.

He emphasised their important role in nurturing families, shaping young minds, and instilling strong moral values in society.

However, Obi used the occasion to highlight the harsh realities of motherhood in Nigeria, focussing on widespread poverty, hunger, and the country’s failing healthcare system.

He cited high maternal mortality rates as a direct result of inadequate investment in critical sectors such as health and education.

“Today also allows us to reassess the challenges of motherhood in Nigeria and find ways to improve their lives and society as a whole,” Obi said.

He cited a 2023 UN Report on Trends in Maternal Mortality, which found that Nigeria accounts for nearly 28.5% of global maternal deaths.

The report also emphasises the stark disparity in maternal mortality risk, with a Nigerian woman having a 1 in 19 lifetime risk of dying during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum, compared to 1 in 4900 in developed countries.

Obi blamed the grim statistics on “bad decisions and misplaced priorities as leaders,” claiming that both men and women, including mothers, are victims of this systemic failure.

“These are the direct consequences of not investing in the most important areas of national development – health, education, and poverty reduction,” he stated.

Obi concluded his message by urging Nigerians to commit to protecting, empowering, and valuing mothers, whose “love and sacrifices make our lives beautiful.”

He reaffirmed his belief in the possibility of a “New Nigeria” with Nigerian mothers’ support and contributions, echoing his campaign slogan, “POssible.”