POWER CRISIS: Obi Slams Tinubu, Says APC Govt Has Presided Over Worst Blackouts In Nigeria’s History

Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has taken a blistering swipe at President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of plunging Nigeria into the worst power crisis in its history despite repeated promises of reform.

In a strongly worded statement on his official X handle Tuesday, Obi reminded Nigerians of Tinubu’s campaign vow on December 22, 2022: “If I don’t give you constant electricity in the next four years, don’t vote for me for a second term.”

But less than two years into his presidency, Obi said, the reality has been far grimmer. “Yet APC and its current government have presided over more national grid failures and power outages than any government in our history. There are now repeated blackouts despite billions in power investments,” Obi declared.

The former Anambra governor faulted the government for what he described as reckless spending in the power sector without visible results. He noted that Nigeria has poured billions of dollars into electricity projects, yet still struggles between 4,500MW and 5,000MW, while nations like Vietnam, Egypt, Indonesia, and Bangladesh have “doubled their electricity generation by tens of thousands of megawatts, powering industries and growing their GDPs.”

Obi stressed that reliable electricity could be the single biggest game-changer for Nigeria’s economy. He argued that with just 10,000MW of consistent power supply, the country’s GDP of roughly $200 billion could jump by at least 50 percent. “Prioritising electricity will unlock industrial growth, create millions of jobs, and boost the economy,” he said.

Instead, Obi lamented, the government is chasing “less impactful prestige projects.” “Rather than focusing on power—which will truly transform our economy—we are building coastal roads that add little to our GDP, while factories shut down, jobs vanish, businesses collapse, and ordinary Nigerians remain trapped in darkness,” he blasted.

Calling on Tinubu to act decisively, Obi urged the Federal Government to channel its energy and resources into expanding power generation and distribution, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses that drive Nigeria’s economy.

Despite his sharp criticism, Obi ended on a hopeful note, insisting that Nigeria’s transformation is possible if leaders embrace the right priorities: “Electricity is the fuel for growth. With focus and honesty, we can power Nigeria’s rise.”