Politician and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of hypocrisy and prioritizing politics over improving Nigerians’ lives.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, coinciding with Nigeria’s Democracy Day on June 12, Obi reflected on the political developments of the past two years, describing them as indicators of the direction toward the next general election.
Paying tribute to the late MKO Abiola, Obi acknowledged the sacrifices made for democracy while expressing concerns about the nation’s current state.
“It is deeply troubling that under the current administration, Nigeria cannot be said to be in a democracy, even though the current president was part of the struggle to bring back democracy.
“The state of the nation is depressing as the economy and security are at an all-time low, and even key indicators for measuring national progress like health care, education and production.
“In 2023, about 38.9% of Nigerians lived below the poverty line, but it has now increased to 54%. Less than 10% of primary health care centres across the country are functioning. I have travelled to several states in the last six months and I have had to make interventions in maternity wards where giving birth is a 50/50 chance of survival for both mother and child.”
Obi highlighted the alarming levels of hunger and food insecurity, with many resorting to “professional begging” due to their inability to afford basic necessities.
“Due to this, the World Health Organisation released a report saying over 20 million Nigerians have mental health issues,” he said, adding that the administration has borrowed heavily, pushing Nigeria’s debt to ₦188 trillion without meaningful impact on citizens’ lives.
“Yet such monies have not been used to better the lot of the people as corruption is now at an all-time high, with the national assembly blatantly padding the 2025 budget.
“Nigerians now pay more tariffs for more darkness. This is against the president’s promise during his campaign, where he said if he didn’t give Nigerians power in four years, they should not vote for him for a second term.”
Obi urged the president to uphold the rule of law, ensure transparency, and re-establish democracy. He also called on the president to engage directly with citizens by visiting various parts of the country rather than spending extended periods abroad.
“If he spends the same amount of time going round Nigeria, he would have seen the suffering,” Obi said.
He emphasized the need to address insecurity to enable farmers to return to their farms, recognizing agriculture as a critical driver of economic recovery. Additionally, he encouraged measures to reduce manufacturing costs to foster production growth.
Calling on Nigerians to remain hopeful despite the challenges, Obi urged the president to implement policies that genuinely alleviate the nation’s struggles and promote progress.