By Mandy Park
Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has r
disclosed that his recent visit to Indonesia was to understudy the country’s progress and compare it with Nigeria’s.
During his five-day trip, Obi met with high-ranking stakeholders, including former Indonesian Minister Agung Laksono, former Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, and Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions Yandri Susanto. Their discussions covered critical areas of concern, including: security, education, healthcare and poverty alleviation.
Obi said he was impressed by Indonesia’s outstanding progress, noting that the country’s per capita income rose from $1,136 in 2004 to approximately $5,000 in 2024, while Nigeria’s remained around $1,000. Indonesia’s Human Development Index (HDI) also improved from medium to high, whereas Nigeria’s remains low.
“Driven by my firm conviction that what is imperatively required now is to learn from and strictly apply the successful lessons that other comparable nations have used to achieve progress, as I had expressly and severally tweeted earlier this year, I embarked on my first planned trip to Indonesia,” he wrote over the weekend.
“I arrived in Indonesia on the 2nd of February and spent five days—Monday to Friday—engaging in several hours of meetings with highly placed stakeholders on various issues of development.
“These discussions covered critical areas such as security, education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.
“In 2004, Indonesia’s per capita income was $1,136, while Nigeria’s was $963. At that time, Indonesia’s overall development, as measured by the Human Development Index (HDI), was categorized as medium, whereas Nigeria’s was low.
“By 2024, Indonesia’s per capita income has risen to approximately $5,000, while Nigeria’s remains around $1,000. Indonesia’s HDI has improved from the medium to the high category, whereas Nigeria remains in the low category. For example, using health, the number one HDI indicator, Indonesia now has 98% health insurance coverage, whereas Nigeria has less than 10%.
“I have already noted some key insights which align with my firm belief that learning from proven models is the panacea for sustainable growth and development.”
Obi gave more insights into the trip on Monday.
He wrote, “In continuation of the narrative on my Indonesia trip, on Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th February, I started with perceptive meetings with Agung Laksono, former Minister, former Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and former Presidential Advisory Board member who served under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo.
“He provided me with valuable insights into the governance strategies of both administrations, detailing the planning, execution, and determination that drove Indonesia’s transformation, with a strong focus on measurable development in critical areas.
“My second session was a meeting with Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, former Vice President of Indonesia, who served under both Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo—making him the only Vice President in Indonesia’s history to serve under two different presidents.
“He emphasized that the achievements of both leaders were made possible through a focused commitment approach, and decisive leadership, ensuring simultaneous development across all sectors.
“My third session was with Yandri Susanto, the Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, who detailed how, under President Joko Widodo, the ministry has made remarkable strides in advancing rural development by focusing on education, healthcare, and support for micro and small businesses within the villages.
“With a structured approach—ranging from extremely underdeveloped to self-sufficient villages—the ministry ensures targeted progress. Its leadership framework, involving municipal and traditional heads, plays a crucial role in effective governance.
“By adopting structured, data-driven policies focused on rural development, industrialization, and diversification, Nigeria can achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. With political will and strategic execution, we can unlock our full potential and ensure no region is left behind.”
