Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has delivered a strong rebuke of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of dragging Nigeria’s democracy and economy into deep decline.
In a statement titled “Democracy in Decline: Reflecting on Two Years of Tinubu’s Governance” released on Thursday, Obi painted a grim picture of the country under Tinubu’s leadership, citing rampant insecurity, economic collapse, widespread corruption, institutional decay, and policy recklessness.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s democratic values have eroded significantly since Tinubu took office. He criticised the president for favouring international trips over domestic engagement, urging him to physically connect with Nigerians across all 36 states.
“Mr. President, you have already made over 30 international trips, spending nearly 150 days abroad. If you dedicate just two days to each Nigerian state, it would take only 72 days to complete. You need to go around the country to see,” Obi stated.
Highlighting the principles of accountability and humility in leadership, Obi urged Tinubu to emulate former Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, both of whom he said acted in defence of democracy despite personal or political cost.
“Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Sadly, none of these ideals exist in Nigeria today,” he lamented. “Rules and regulations are ignored, and individuals who should be disqualified from holding office are now occupying public positions.”
Obi condemned what he described as the glorification of propaganda, manipulation of public perception, and the weaponisation of governance under the current administration.
“Nigerians are facing worsening insecurity, hunger, and despair. Education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation have all collapsed,” he said.
Citing official figures, Obi noted that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had declined drastically from $364 billion in May 2023 to $188 billion, representing a nearly 50% drop. He added that GDP per capita has fallen from $1,640 to $835, while multidimensional poverty has surged to 54%, affecting 129 million Nigerians.
He also decried the worsening state of education, stating that over 18.3 million children are out of school — the highest number globally. Students, he said, are forced to take national exams under appalling conditions, often relying on candlelight due to persistent power shortages.
In the healthcare sector, Obi described a dire situation, revealing that fewer than 20% of Nigeria’s over 30,000 primary healthcare centres are fully operational. He noted that many delivery rooms lack basic facilities, including toilets.
“UN data ranks Nigeria as the worst country in the world to give birth, with one maternal death every seven minutes,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor also raised alarm over the massive collapse of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with about 7 million closing down in the past two years, alongside more than 80 manufacturing companies. Multinational giants like GlaxoSmithKline, Diageo, Procter & Gamble, and Shoprite, he said, have exited the Nigerian market due to deteriorating business conditions.
He warned that the nation is facing a deepening food crisis, with Nigeria now listed among the world’s hungriest countries. Obi also pointed to rising mental health concerns, stating that 59% of Nigerians report experiencing stress on a daily basis.
Criticising the federal government’s fiscal management, Obi said despite removing fuel subsidies and claiming to save trillions of naira, the Tinubu administration has borrowed more than the last three governments combined.
“Nigeria’s total public debt is now nearing N188 trillion. Yet, critical sectors like education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation have seen no meaningful improvement,” he said.
On the issue of corruption, Obi alleged that the 2025 budget had been inflated by about N7 trillion, describing the national budget as “a crime scene.”
“The unchecked padding and misappropriation of funds are evidence of the deep rot,” he declared.
Obi concluded with a call for urgent and sweeping reforms to protect democracy, restore transparency, and prioritise the well-being of ordinary Nigerians.
“This administration must stop weaponising poverty, manipulating citizens, and suppressing democratic principles. It must act swiftly to rescue Nigeria from total collapse,” he said.
