The Labour Party’s presidential candidate at the 2023 polls, Mr Peter Obi, tackled the administration of President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, claiming that he had barely done enough to address the country’s “worsening” economic, political, and security challenges in the last 18 months.
Obi demanded what he called “vigorous, positive actions” by the administration to bring succour to Nigerians, most of whom he said appeared to be losing hope.
The former governor of Anambra State gave his position on the state of affairs under the Tinubu administration in a 2025 message titled, “Nigeria Needs Selfless And Exemplary Leadership” in Abuja.
“The political, economic, and security situation of our country is worsening daily, despite contrary positions and claims by the government of improvement in different spheres of human endeavour.
“Our national challenges are visibly worsening. Our nation and its fortunes are in clear reverse. The indices are clearly indicative of our decline; thus, our national indices tell a disconcerting story. Nigeria remains one of the poverty capitals of the world, with over 100 million people living in extreme poverty and more than 150 million in multidimensional poverty,” he stated.
Giving further statistics to back his argument, Obi said that in the last 18 months, Nigeria had dropped from being the largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $574 billion and a per capita income of over $3,500 in 2014, “to now ranking fourth on the continent.”
He added, “Our current GDP is less than 50% of what it was a decade ago, standing at approximately $200 billion, with a per capita income of barely $1,000. Nigeria remains one of the most insecure and least peaceful nations in the world, with countless communities and families displaced from their homes and now living in IDP camps.
“According to the Global Peace Index (GPI), Nigeria ranks 143rd out of 163 countries in terms of peacefulness—an indication of a high level of distress. Food insecurity has become our new national norm, making Nigeria one of the hungriest countries in the world. Gainfully employed and middle-income Nigerians now spend nearly their entire incomes on feeding, with some even resorting to borrowing just to eat. For those living on the margins – low-income earners and the unemployed – the situation is even more dire.”
Though he noted that the administration upped the pay of public sector workers by raising the minimum wage to N70,000, the amount would not do much in terms of improving the purchasing power as hunger continued to claim lives.
“The newly approved minimum wage of N70,000 cannot afford a bag of rice or even half a bag of beans. As a result, many Nigerians go to bed hungry, while a significant number now rely on palliatives and charitable support. Tragically, this has recently led to several avoidable deaths.
“Nigeria’s ranking on the 2024 Global Hunger Index is 110th out of 127 countries, reflecting a critical level of hunger and food insecurity in the nation. We have earned the dubious distinction of being one of the countries with the largest number of people without access to electricity,” he said.
On power supply, corruption and debts, the LP candidate bashed the government, accusing it of posting declining records with the National Grid collapsing “12 times in 12 months” and Nigeria acquiring the new tag of “generator country.”
He went on, “Corruption, official malfeasance, fiscal profligacy, and the mismanagement of public resources continue to rise astronomically in our country, spreading across all spheres of government. Similarly, nepotism and the disregard for the Constitution, the rule of law, and due process have become the norm.
“Our national debt has risen astronomically, from approximately N15 trillion in 2015 to N100 trillion today. This sharp increase has occurred within the past 18 months under the current administration. Ironically, these borrowings are largely allocated to non-regenerative programmes and projects, leaving little to no tangible developmental assets to show for the debt. Inflation remains at an all-time high, businesses are collapsing, and manufacturing companies are barely surviving, further contributing to the already high unemployment rate.
“We hold periodic elections that are no longer genuine. Our electoral processes are visibly flawed, lacking transparency and credibility. Although Nigeria is a democratic country, the electoral processes fall far below acceptable standards, with the people’s votes often not counting.”
Obi, while offering suggestions to the administration, said the solutions come from “selfless and exemplary leadership across the three arms and tiers of government,” beginning from the top, where Mr President controls the wheel.
Addressing Tinubu directly, Obi said, “Since the ultimate responsibility lies with Mr President, I will direct my attention to him.
“Mr President, present-day Nigeria aligns closely with Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s powerful words: ‘We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive actions.’
“Because we all love Nigeria and desire its prosperity, I would like to suggest some actions I would have personally approached differently. It is time to confront our national problems boldly, decisively, and with a sense of urgency.”
Top among his suggestions, Obi advised the administration to immediately cut down the cost of governance and redirect resources to security, health, education, and poverty alleviation.
Aside from combating corruption and opening the government’s books for public scrutiny, he called for borrowings to be tied to “regenerative investments and visible, productive assets that benefit the nation.”
For first-hand information on the state of decay in Nigeria, Obi also urged Mr President to tour the country more by cutting down on foreign trips.
“Mr President, out of the approximately 580 days you have been in office, it is reported that you have spent over 30%, or around 180 days, on more than 30 publicly recorded overseas trips. My appeal is that you dedicate at least 20% of 2025 – roughly 72 days – to visit each of Nigeria’s 36 states for two days each. As President, such visits would give you the opportunity to better understand the dire economic and security situations across the country.
“Furthermore, it is time for you to visit our national hospitals. Consider, for example, that your next medical examination be conducted at one of our National Hospitals or Regional Federal Medical Centres, such as the FMC in Sokoto or Birnin Kebbi or Calabar or Umuahia or Akure, among others. This will allow you to assess the state of healthcare facilities available to Nigerians. It will also help you understand the condition of our hospitals and clinics, enabling you to make informed decisions on how to upgrade and make them efficient. Endeavour to travel by road to observe the condition of most highways,” he told the President.
Obi further suggested, “You can take short trips, for example, from Calabar in Cross River State to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, a distance of less than 100 km, or from Benin in Edo State to Warri in Delta State. I recall taking President Olusegun Obasanjo on a trip from Awka to Onitsha on a federal highway when I was the Governor of Anambra State. That journey prompted him to immediately approve the reconstruction of parts of the road by the Anambra State government, with subsequent reimbursement by the federal government. Such actions are immensely valuable.
“Make both impromptu and planned visits to our tertiary institutions, where our children and future leaders are being trained, are essential to familiarise yourself with the available infrastructure, facilities, and amenities.
“These visits will provide valuable insight into whether the resources of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) are being utilised optimally and what is needed to sustain the education system. I recall President Shagari visiting the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, when I was a student there and telling us, ‘I have seen the facilities myself, and I assure you of my intervention.’ Institutional facilities improved significantly thereafter.
“As Commander-in-Chief, visit our military formations and security agencies, especially during their field operations, and provide them with morale-boosting assurances and support for operational efficiency. Reiterate that they and their families will always be taken care of.
Mr President, many Nigerians are ‘refugees’ and ‘exiles’ in their own country. Visit various IDP camps and assure these Nigerians that they will soon return to their communities and that you are working hard to restore peace and normalcy to the country. Nigeria is not a war-torn nation. The proliferation of IDP camps is a troubling sign. As President, you are no longer the Governor of Lagos State; therefore, consider spending your holidays in different parts of the country.”
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