Former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign, Doyin Okupe, has launched a scathing critique of Peter Obi, the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate. In a recent statement, Okupe criticized both candidates for lacking concrete policy frameworks to back up their campaign promises, particularly their call for a shift from consumption to production in Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking on Tuesday while reviewing the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Okupe stated that the current president presented a more robust and actionable policy framework compared to his two main rivals in the 2023 presidential election. According to Okupe, Tinubu’s policies, particularly those outlined in his “Renewed Hope Agenda,” are a clear departure from the rhetoric seen in the campaigns of Obi and Atiku. “Tinubu has a better policy document than any of his two rivals during the 2023 presidential election,” Okupe said, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Okupe praised Tinubu for his methodical approach to implementing his economic agenda, which includes addressing Nigeria’s overwhelming debt situation. “Tinubu has been working to pay off crippling debts to stabilize the economy,” Okupe noted, highlighting the president’s efforts to lay a more sustainable foundation for economic recovery. He further emphasized that Tinubu’s approach is focused on pragmatic, real-world solutions, something he believes was missing from the campaigns of both Obi and Atiku.
Turning his attention to Atiku Abubakar, Okupe criticized the PDP candidate’s proposals, particularly his reliance on loans as a cornerstone of his economic strategy. “Atiku’s plans were overly reliant on theoretical loan arrangements,” Okupe remarked, pointing out that Nigeria’s financial situation at the time made it difficult for the country to secure loans from international institutions. According to Okupe, these proposals were unrealistic and would have been difficult to implement, given the constraints facing the country.
Okupe also addressed Peter Obi’s Labour Party campaign, arguing that it lacked a solid policy document to guide its vision for Nigeria. “All we were saying was that we wanted to take Nigeria from consumption to production; good rhetoric, but it was not grounded either in policy development or principle application,” Okupe stated. He expressed disappointment that the LP failed to provide any clear policy framework, which he believes would have been crucial in helping the party win over voters seeking tangible solutions to the country’s challenges.
Despite not supporting Tinubu in the run-up to the 2023 election and being part of a rival party, Okupe did not shy away from praising the president’s economic reforms. He specifically noted Tinubu’s efforts to tackle foreign exchange challenges and implement tax reforms, which align with his pre-election promises. “Though I never supported Tinubu ahead of the election and we were not in the same party, in retrospect, his reform agenda is the most credible,” Okupe acknowledged.
Concluding his statement, Okupe expressed confidence that Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” is effectively addressing Nigeria’s current challenges and has the potential to elevate the country to new heights. He believes that the president’s policy framework, if fully implemented, will have a long-lasting positive impact on the nation’s economy and overall development.
