Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of worsening poverty, insecurity and corruption in Nigeria, insisting that a more productive and inclusive country is possible under different leadership.
Obi made the allegations in a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, a day after the inauguration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaign council in Abuja on October 26.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria, despite its abundant natural and human resources, had become the world’s poverty capital, claiming that more than 140 million Nigerians were multidimensionally poor.
He also criticised the federal government’s economic policies, arguing that the removal of the petrol subsidy and increased borrowing had not produced a corresponding improvement in national productivity.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s debt has risen above ₦165 trillion, while unemployment, inequality and hardship continue to affect millions of citizens.
“In the last three years, President Tinubu has foisted on Nigeria a reign of corruption and duplicity, resulting in extreme poverty,” Obi alleged.
He further accused Tinubu of making Nigeria the country with the largest number of people pushed into poverty, claiming that about 16 million Nigerians had become extremely poor this year.
Obi’s comments followed Tinubu’s campaign rally in Kaduna on Saturday, where the president reportedly blamed past administrations and opposition leaders for the hunger and poverty confronting Nigerians.
The NDC figure questioned Tinubu’s ability to address the country’s challenges, alleging that the president lacked the competence, capacity and commitment required to reverse the situation.
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He also criticised the state of Nigeria’s electricity sector, arguing that unreliable power supply had undermined businesses, healthcare delivery, education and household welfare.
Obi said his proposed administration would pursue electricity reforms focused on reliability, affordability, investment and accountability. He added that his government would work with federal and state institutions, regulators, operators and investors to address challenges affecting electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
On national security, Obi alleged that Nigeria had become more divided and insecure under the current administration. He also raised concerns about what he described as declining standards in public institutions, including questions surrounding the credibility of budgets and the integrity of laws.
He said his engagements with Nigerians across different regions and social groups had reinforced the need for better governance, accountability and a more productive economy.
Obi, who is aligning with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso under the NDC, called on party members and Nigerians to support their proposed political movement to rebuild the country.
He outlined a vision of a Nigeria founded on fairness, justice, equity, inclusion and development, where government prioritises citizens’ security and welfare and public officials are held accountable.
The former presidential candidate also called for improvements in education and healthcare, saying every child should have access to schooling and basic literacy. He added that no Nigerian should be forced to live in an internally displaced persons’ camp.
Obi concluded by describing a new Nigeria as both a vision and a mission, while alleging that corruption had become more pervasive under the APC-led government since Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
The figures and accusations cited in Obi’s statement were presented by him as part of his criticism of the administration.