The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks on hunger in Nigeria, describing them as insensitive to the struggles faced by millions of citizens.
Obi, in a statement shared on his official social media page on Friday, said the country’s worsening economic hardship should not be downplayed by arguing that hunger has always existed in Nigeria.
The former Anambra State governor was reacting to comments made by President Tinubu during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the President stated that hunger had existed in Nigeria long before his birth.
Responding to the remark, Obi said while hunger has historically been a global challenge, the focus should be on the increasing hardship Nigerians are experiencing under the current administration and the effectiveness of government policies in addressing it.
He argued that food insecurity and poverty levels have significantly worsened since the Tinubu administration assumed office in 2023, claiming that the number of Nigerians facing acute food insecurity has increased from about 17 million before the administration to approximately 35 million.
Obi also alleged that the population of Nigerians living in extreme poverty has risen from an estimated 87 million in 2023 to nearly 140 million, warning that the country is now facing a severe economic crisis.
The presidential hopeful acknowledged that the Tinubu administration inherited existing challenges but maintained that the success of any government should be measured by the results it delivers rather than the problems it inherited.
He attributed the worsening economic situation to factors including insecurity, poor economic policies, excessive government spending, fiscal challenges, and insufficient investment in key sectors.
Obi called on the Federal Government to prioritise education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and support for small businesses, saying these areas are critical to creating jobs, improving productivity, and reducing poverty in Nigeria.
BACKSTORY:
Former Anambra State governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent comments on hunger in Nigeria, describing the statement as insensitive to the struggles of citizens facing economic hardship.
The controversy followed President Tinubu’s remarks during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he stated that hunger had existed in Nigeria long before his administration.
Reacting to the comment, Obi argued that while hunger has historically affected societies, the priority should be addressing the worsening economic conditions Nigerians are currently experiencing.
Obi claimed that food insecurity and poverty levels have increased since the Tinubu administration came into power in 2023, citing rising numbers of Nigerians facing severe hardship. He said leadership should be judged by the ability to improve citizens’ living conditions rather than by the challenges inherited from previous governments.
The former presidential candidate blamed the situation on issues such as insecurity, economic mismanagement, high public spending, and inadequate investment in productive sectors. He urged the Federal Government to focus on policies that would improve food production, create jobs, strengthen healthcare and education, and support small businesses.
