According to a report by The Sun, on Thursday August 27, 2026, former Anambra State Governor and New Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi defended his position on the 13-month strike undertaken by medical doctors in the state during his tenure.Obi addressed the prolonged industrial action in a trending video.
The strike began in February 2011 and continued until February 2012, disrupting operations in public hospitals and affecting the delivery of healthcare services across Anambra State for more than one year.The former governor questioned the extent to which the doctors’ absence affected residents during the strike. He argued that, despite the prolonged disruption, the state did not experience the mass deaths that might have been expected from the withdrawal of medical services on such a large scale.
According to Obi, this outcome indicated that deeper questions remained about the role, effectiveness, and overall contribution of doctors within the state’s public health system. His argument focused on the apparent contradiction between the length of the strike and the absence of the severe consequences that many might have anticipated.“If the doctors were very effective, in 13 months, there was no mass death. That means something is missing, because after 13 months but we are still alive,” he said.Obi’s comments have attracted attention because the strike occurred while he was serving as governor of Anambra State.
The industrial action lasted for more than one year, disrupted public healthcare services, and became one of the major challenges confronting his administration during that period.Obi appeared to use the outcome of the strike to argue that the public healthcare system was influenced by several other factors that required careful examination, including the conditions facing health workers, the effectiveness of government policies, and the broader challenges affecting medical services. His remarks have also generated debate among Nigerians, particularly as he prepares to contest the presidency again and seeks to present his views on the country’s healthcare system and governance.
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