Peter Obi resumes public engagements after medical rest

A former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has resumed public engagements following a brief medical rest that led to the suspension of his scheduled appearances over the weekend.

Obi had earlier announced the medical break in a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, revealing that he fell ill while attending a tourism event in Enugu on Friday.

Acting on his doctor’s advice, the former governor said he had suspended all engagements within and outside Nigeria for the weekend.

“I am complying with my doctor’s advice and will be taking a short rest, during which I will not be able to meet up with scheduled engagements,” Obi had stated.

Resuming activities on Monday, Obi said he began by honouring a long-standing promise to visit an SME owned by a Nigerian entrepreneur he had encountered during his travels.

He highlighted the significance of SMEs in economic growth, noting that MDH employs over 50 young Nigerians directly and indirectly, and has the capacity to grow further with the right investment and government support.

Citing international examples such as Bangladesh — where textiles account for over 70% of national exports, generating over $50 billion annually — Obi lamented the collapse of Nigeria’s textile industry, which once played a major role in the economy.

Our textile sector has regrettably collapsed and now contributes very little to the national economy. This shows how much untapped potential lies within our borders,” he said.

He reiterated his longstanding call for Nigeria to transition from a consumption-based economy to one driven by local production, particularly through support for SMEs.

“Investing in small businesses is key to lifting millions out of poverty and positioning Nigeria as a global player in creativity and trade,” Obi said.