Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that after nearly two years in office, the government has failed to deliver tangible progress for Nigerians.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time program on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Obi laid out five crucial areas where he believes he would have taken a different and more effective approach to governance. He emphasized that two years was enough time to bring visible transformation, had the right policies been implemented.
The former Anambra governor said his administration would have tackled corruption head-on, significantly reduced the cost of governance, and ensured that Nigerians could feel the impact of these changes in their daily lives. He lamented the current wastage of public funds, pointing out that while over N35 billion was spent on a conference center, the country’s primary healthcare system remained largely non-functional.
Obi further criticized the administration’s handling of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, using Bangladesh as a case study. He noted that despite having over six times the land size of Bangladesh, Nigeria still struggles to produce even 10% of the 60 million metric tons of rice that Bangladesh harvests annually. According to him, proper investment in agriculture could turn Nigeria into a major rice-exporting nation.
While acknowledging the necessity of devaluing the naira, Obi faulted the unstructured approach taken by Tinubu’s government. He argued that currency devaluation should be done in a way that supports productivity and exports, rather than further crippling the economy. Floating the naira without boosting local production, he warned, would only worsen economic hardship for Nigerians.
This is not the first time Obi has taken a swipe at Tinubu’s policies. His latest remarks add to the ongoing political debate about the direction of Nigeria’s economy and governance, with many Nigerians voicing concerns over inflation, unemployment, and worsening living conditions.
As the 2027 elections approach, Obi’s latest comments signal his continued determination to challenge the ruling party’s policies while positioning himself as a viable alternative for Nigerians seeking change.
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