By Abiola Olawale
As Nigeria marks its 26th year of uninterrupted democracy, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has delivered a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Obi, a two-term Governor of Anambra State accused Tinubu’s government of prioritizing political maneuvering over addressing the dire needs of Nigerians.
In a fiery Democracy Day press briefing in Abuja, Obi declared that Tinubu’s leadership has plunged the nation into “two years of darkness,” marked by hunger, corruption, and a disregard for the rule of law.
He said: “It is deeply troubling that under the current administration, Nigeria cannot be said to be in a democracy, even though the current president was part of the struggle to bring back democracy.
“The state of the nation is depressing as the economy and security are at an all-time low, and even key indicators for measuring national progress like health care, education, and production
“In 2023, about 38.9% of Nigerians lived below the poverty line, but it has now increased to 54%. Less than 10% of primary health care centres across the country are functioning. I have travelled to several states in the last six months and I have had to make interventions in maternity wards where giving birth is a 50/50 chance of survival for both mother and child.”
He argued that the hunger crisis and food insecurity are at an all-time high, with many unable to afford basic food items, leading many to resort to “professional begging”.
“Due to this, the World Health Organisation released a report saying over 20 million Nigerians have mental health issues,” he said, adding that instead of the current administration finding succour to the economic challenges, it has borrowed so much money that Nigeria’s debt is now N188 trillion.”
“Yet such monies have not been used to better the lot of the people as corruption is now at an all-time high, with the national assembly blatantly padding the 2025 budget.
“Nigerians now pay more tariffs for more darkness. This is against the president’s promise during his campaign, where he said if he didn’t give Nigerians power in four years, they should not vote for him for a second term.”
