Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has openly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its “wasteful spending” in the face of Nigeria’s worsening poverty crisis.

In an interview with News Central TV, Obi expressed concern over the plight of 38 million Nigerians who are at risk of extreme hunger, accusing the government of failing to address crucial development issues. “You cannot ask people to fast while you are feasting,” Obi said, pointing to the administration’s expenditures on luxury projects as an example of misplaced priorities.

He cited specific cases of what he deemed excessive spending, including the acquisition of a new presidential jet for $100 million, the N21 billion allocated for renovations to the vice president’s lodge, and the N15 billion set aside for building a clinic for the National Assembly.

Highlighting Nigeria’s status as the “poverty capital of the world,” Obi argued that the country is in a state of crisis marked by both human and food insecurity. He called on the government to refocus its spending on essential sectors like healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, and agriculture.

“To tackle these challenges, we need to invest in agriculture to fight hunger, unemployment, and inflation,” Obi asserted. Obi also suggested the possibility of forming a coalition with other opposition parties to address Nigeria’s economic and security problems ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.