By Abiola Olawale
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has once again reiterated his calls for the cutting down of wasteful government expenditures.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State in his latest call urged the Federal Government to draw inspiration from the recent happenings in Kenya.
Obi called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to listen to the demands of his people just like Kenyan President William Ruto listened to his people by cutting down government spending to grow the country’s budget deficit.
He also urged the Federal Government to act immediately by making sacrifices and prioritizing the usage of Nigeria’s resources effectively before the demands of Nigerians escalate into full-blown demonstrations.
Obi who took to his official Twitter handle said: “We, the Nigerian political leaders, should take a strong lesson from the recent Kenyan experience. When the Kenyan public realized that their government was not making sufficient sacrifices and prioritizing resources effectively, they spoke out, demanded change, expressed their dissatisfaction, and protested. In response, the President demonstrated true Leadership by listening to the people’s demands and acting accordingly, recognizing that government should be driven by the needs of the citizens, not by our consumption agenda.
“The government took several measures to reduce unnecessary expenditures and demonstrate fiscal responsibility, including cancelling budgets for the First Lady and Second Lady’s offices, dissolving 47 state agencies, suspending nonessential travel for government workers, freezing the purchase of new cars for officials, and reducing the number of advisers by half. Another notable instance was when the president was accused of chartering a plane to America. Instead of dismissing the concerns, he responded transparently and addressed the issue.”
In contrast, Obi lamented Nigeria’s leadership, which he said often disregards citizens’ grievances and allegedly uses public funds to silence critics. He said there is need for leaders to prioritize the welfare of the people over personal interests.
The former Anambra State Governor added, “This acknowledgement of the people’s demands exemplifies responsive governance. In contrast, we the Nigerian leaders, often arrogantly do the opposite to genuine grievances of our suffering citizens. Instead of addressing legitimate concerns, and being accountable to the people, we resort to using public funds to pay media thugs to insult and abuse those who speak truth to power. We, the Nigerian Leaders, must abandon these detrimental habits, stop feasting, and start making sacrifices for the greater good of our suffering masses.
“True change and progress will require leaders who are sincere, willing to listen, act responsibly, and prioritize the welfare of the people over personal or political interests. If we make the necessary changes and make the needed sacrifices, A new Nigeria is possible!”
The New Diplomat reports that the Kenyan president, following deadly demonstrations where several citizens lost their lives, announced a significant reorganization of his government, with a policy which drastically reduced the administration’s expenditures.
The Kenyan President revealed in a televised address on Friday that he will send a bill detailing a new fiscal strategy to the parliament. The proposal includes spending cuts totalling 177 billion shillings ($1.39 billion) for the fiscal year that began this month.
He further announced that budgets allocated to the offices of the First Lady and Second Lady would be scrapped.
Ruto also dissolved 47 state agencies and susp
