Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP), has criticized the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, urging him to adopt a more hands-on approach in addressing the country’s governance challenges. Obi made these remarks during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, where he discussed the current state of the nation.
Obi began by calling on President Tinubu to take personal responsibility for the cost of governance, suggesting that he should set an example by reducing public spending. He emphasized that the President should lead by example, particularly when it comes to accessing healthcare and education services in Nigeria. “The President should treat himself at local hospitals and visit educational institutions to directly observe the level of development in these critical sectors,” Obi stated.
He further pointed out that corruption in Nigeria remains pervasive, with high costs of governance contributing to the growing public debt under the current administration. “The cost of governance is astronomical, and this has led to an unprecedented increase in public debt,” Obi said, stressing that these funds should be invested in tangible development rather than consumption.
Obi also criticized the government’s borrowing practices, stating that loans should be tied to specific, beneficial projects. “Borrowing should be for development, not for consumption. There should be visible progress, but that is not the case,” Obi remarked, highlighting the lack of concrete projects associated with the loans taken under Tinubu’s government.
The LP leader accused government officials of mismanaging public funds, citing the frequency of foreign trips as an example of the government’s wastefulness. “Government officials have willfully mismanaged public funds in 2024, with incessant foreign trips that add no value to the nation,” he said, condemning the extravagance of public servants amid the country’s financial challenges.
Obi also challenged President Tinubu to experience firsthand the deplorable state of Nigeria’s infrastructure, particularly the nation’s roads. “Once in a while, the President should travel by road to feel the pain of the people. This would give him a clearer understanding of the state of the country’s infrastructure,” Obi suggested, referring to the terrible condition of public roads in many parts of the nation.
Recalling his own time as governor, Obi shared an anecdote of how he personally took then-President Olusegun Obasanjo on a road trip from Awka to Onitsha. “When I was governor of Anambra State, I took President Obasanjo from Awka to Onitsha by road. That experience led to the award of the contract for the road. Leaders should feel the pain of the people,” Obi explained.
The former presidential candidate also expressed deep concern over the country’s growing poverty levels, particularly in the face of widespread hunger and economic inequality. He condemned the stampedes for palliative distributions in various parts of the country, which he described as indicative of the severe poverty afflicting millions of Nigerians.
Obi noted that despite the implementation of a new minimum wage, the situation for many Nigerians has not improved. “The new minimum wage has not solved the hunger crisis in the country. People are still suffering,” he lamented, underscoring the disconnect between government policy and the realities faced by ordinary citizens.
In his assessment of Nigeria’s security situation, Obi described the ongoing violence as tragic and unacceptable. “Nigerians are dying needlessly due to banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping. The government must do more to address this escalating insecurity,” he said, calling for more decisive action from the authorities.
On President Tinubu’s leadership, Obi criticized the President for being out of touch with the broader concerns of the country. He argued that Tinubu, who previously served as Governor of Lagos State, still operates with a Lagos-centric mindset. “The President should stop seeing himself as the governor of Lagos State. He needs to understand the realities of the entire nation,” Obi asserted.
Obi suggested that Tinubu should spend more time outside Lagos, especially during festive periods, to gain a better understanding of the struggles faced by Nigerians in other regions. “The President should spend time in other parts of the country during the festive seasons. He needs to feel the pain of the people, not just in Lagos,” he said.
Finally, Obi emphasized the importance of reforming leadership practices and prioritizing the welfare of citizens over political interests. “Nigeria cannot afford to continue on the current path. We need leadership that is truly committed to the welfare of the people,” he concluded.
