Corruption At Its Worst Under Tinubu’s Govt – Peter Obi
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring that corruption has reached unprecedented levels and Nigeria has become a “crime scene”.
Speaking during a Democracy Day press briefing on Thursday, Obi lamented the rapid increase in national debt, saying, “Corruption is at its worst in this administration. Nigeria has now become a crime scene. The present government has borrowed more money in two years than the governments of Umar Musa Yar’adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari combined.”
He noted that despite heavy borrowing, there has been no visible improvement in critical sectors.
“Today, Nigeria’s public debt is estimated to be close to N188 trillion. Nigerians were informed that the borrowings were to fund critical areas of development. Still, no significant improvements in education, healthcare and poverty alleviation,” Obi stated.
According to the Debt Management Office, public debt surged by N57.3 trillion in Tinubu’s first 18 months—a 65.6% jump from the N87.38 trillion level.
Obi also condemned Tinubu’s frequent foreign travels and urged him to engage with Nigerians directly.
“The president should stop touring outside Nigeria and use the remaining two years to tour the Nigerian states. Mr President, you have already spent 150 days on foreign trips. If you tour Nigerian states for an average of 2 days each, it would only be about 72 days,” he said.
“You must now go around Nigeria to see for the first time what your citizens are going through. It is time to stop governance by remote control.”
However, Tinubu, in his Democracy Day address, defended his administration’s record.
He said, “GDP grew by 3.4 per cent in 2024, with Q4 hitting 4.6 per cent, the highest quarter of growth in over a decade,” adding that inflation was “easing gradually” and food prices like rice and beans were stabilising.
“Our administration is fully committed to boosting the economy’s productive base,” Tinubu said, citing investments in infrastructure, ports, rail, and power to support industry and manufacturing.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
