Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of reversing Nigeria’s democratic progress and mismanaging the country’s resources since taking office two years ago.
In a statement titled “Democracy in Decline: Reflecting on Two Years of Tinubu’s Governance,” Obi criticized Tinubu’s leadership, arguing that governance and policy execution under his administration have deteriorated significantly.
Obi evaluated the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government poorly across several areas—including corruption, financial prudence, economic management, security, and political accountability. He urged Tinubu to stop traveling abroad and instead visit Nigeria’s 36 states.
“Mr. President, you’ve taken over 30 foreign trips, spending nearly 150 days outside the country,” Obi said. “If you spent just two days in each Nigerian state, you could complete a nationwide tour in 72 days—less than half the time you’ve spent abroad.”
He urged Tinubu to follow the example of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who admitted the flawed electoral process that brought him to power and committed to doing better. Obi also praised former President Goodluck Jonathan for preserving democracy by conceding defeat in 2015.
Obi condemned the current administration for enabling impunity, capturing the state, and violating the rule of law. He argued that Nigeria no longer meets the basic criteria for a democratic state, as democratic institutions and values have eroded.
“Election rules are ignored, and unqualified individuals now occupy public office,” he said. “Instead of upholding the principles of democracy, this government has normalized failure, dishonesty, and propaganda.”
Obi criticized the Tinubu administration for manipulating public opinion and deflecting blame instead of delivering real results. He highlighted Nigeria’s worsening poverty, insecurity, hunger, and lack of measurable development in education, healthcare, and poverty reduction.
Obi cited economic statistics to support his claims:
* Nigeria’s GDP fell from $364 billion in May 2023 to \$188 billion—a nearly 50% drop.
* GDP per capita dropped from $1,640 to $835 in the same period.
* Multidimensional poverty rose from 38.9% to 54%, affecting about 129 million Nigerians.
* The World Bank reported that 75% of rural Nigerians now live in poverty.
Obi also pointed out that more than 18.3 million Nigerian children are out of school—the highest number globally. Many students lack access to basic resources like science labs or computers, and some sit for national exams in the dark.
He warned that Nigeria’s healthcare system has collapsed, with less than 20% of primary health centers functioning properly. The United Nations recently ranked Nigeria as the most dangerous country for childbirth, with one death occurring every seven minutes.
Obi revealed that about 7 million Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) shut down in the past two years. More than 80 manufacturing companies closed permanently, while over 15 multinational corporations—including GlaxoSmithKline, Diageo, Procter & Gamble, and Shoprite—exited Nigeria due to poor business conditions.
He added that food insecurity has worsened, pushing Nigeria into the ranks of the world’s hungriest nations. Rising prices and lack of income have left millions unable to afford food.
Obi also raised alarms about a mental health crisis, with 59% of Nigerians now experiencing daily stress. He linked this to growing anxiety, depression, and societal anger.
On public finances, Obi accused the Tinubu administration of misusing funds saved from the removal of fuel subsidy. Despite promises to use the money for development, he said the government has borrowed more in two years than the combined administrations of Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari.
“Nigeria’s total public debt now approaches **N188 trillion**,” Obi said. “Yet we see no major improvements in education, healthcare, or poverty alleviation.”
He alleged that corruption has reached unprecedented levels, citing massive budget inflation and fund misappropriation. He noted that watchdog group BudgIT found **N7 trillion** in questionable allocations within the 2025 national budget alone.
Obi concluded by calling for urgent corrective actions to restore democratic norms and responsible governance in Nigeria.
