Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu's economic management, while Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has expressed his willingness to collaborate with Obi to address Nigeria's pressing issues.
During a visit to Governor Mohammed on Thursday, Obi lamented the country's economic state, citing soaring inflation, currency depreciation, and the rising cost of essential goods. He sarcastically "praised" Tinubu for fulfilling his promise to continue the economic trajectory of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
"Tinubu promised to continue where Buhari stopped," Obi stated. "If you look at it, Buhari left the dollar at about N400, today it is about N1500. Rice was about N40,000, it is now over N100,000. Fuel was about N300, it is now over N1,000. I can go on and on—everything has doubled and tripled. So, he has done exactly as he promised."
Obi contrasted Nigeria's economic performance with that of Indonesia. He highlighted Indonesia's GDP growth from $800 billion to $1.3 trillion and an increase in per capita income from $3,000 to $5,000 over the past decade. In contrast, Nigeria's GDP fell from $500 billion to $200 billion, and per capita income dropped from $3,500 to below $2,000 during the same period.
Obi emphasized the need for industrial revitalization, investment in education and healthcare, and a shift toward productive governance. He also reiterated his call for Nigerians to move beyond ethnic and religious politics, advocating instead for competence and capacity in leadership.
Governor Bala Mohammed responded by declaring his readiness to work with Peter Obi, acknowledging him as the current leader of the opposition in Nigeria. Mohammed emphasized that their collaboration would transcend party lines, regional affiliations, and religious differences, with the shared goal of rescuing and recovering Nigeria.
Mohammed highlighted that discussions during Obi's visit focused on addressing poverty and criminality across the country. He stated that PDP governors are in support of this collaboration.
Obi stated that he visited Mohammed to discuss challenges in Nigeria and consult him as a key political stakeholder, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues in the north. Obi highlighted the need to prioritize funding in essential sectors to alleviate poverty, reduce crime, and promote a safer society.