Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has taken a sharp jab at President Bola Tinubu’s administration, sarcastically commending him for fulfilling his pledge to continue where former President Muhammadu Buhari left off.
Speaking during a visit to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed on Thursday, Obi decried the deteriorating economic situation in Nigeria, citing the rapid depreciation of the naira, skyrocketing inflation, and the soaring cost of essential commodities.
Obi drew a stark comparison between Nigeria and Indonesia, emphasizing how the Southeast Asian nation had significantly boosted its GDP and per capita income over the past decade while Nigeria’s economic indicators plummeted. He called for urgent industrial revitalization, increased investment in education and healthcare, and a shift toward governance driven by competence rather than ethnic and religious affiliations.
In a biting critique, Obi remarked:
> “Tinubu promised to continue where Buhari stopped. If you look at it, Buhari left the dollar at about N400, today it is about N1,500. Rice was about N40,000, it is now over N100,000. Fuel was about N300, it is now over N1,000. I can go on and on—everything has doubled and tripled. So, he has done exactly as he promised.”
Comparing economic trajectories, Obi contrasted Nigeria’s decline with Indonesia’s progress:
> “In Indonesia, a president was sworn in about the same time as another one in Nigeria. Ten years later, Indonesia grew its GDP from $800 billion to $1.3 trillion, and its per capita income from $3,000 to $5,000. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s GDP fell from $500 billion to $200 billion, and per capita income dropped from $3,500 to below $2,000. That is the difference.”
Obi further emphasized the urgency of reviving Nigeria’s industries, strengthening education and healthcare, and fostering a productive economy. He revealed that his meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed was part of broader discussions on tackling Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
> “We have just started discussions. You can’t consummate a marriage in one day. But the most important thing is that our thoughts are centered on issues that affect the ordinary Nigerian,” Obi noted.
Reaffirming his commitment to national unity and progress, he called for an end to divisive politics:
“We want a Nigeria where a child of nobody can become somebody. We will eliminate the elite conspiracy that uses tribalism and religion to divide the people. We have voted for tribe and religion before; now, we must vote for competence and capacity.”
Obi’s remarks have reignited debates over the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy, with many Nigerians echoing his concerns as the cost of living crisis deepens.
PIONEER NEWS 