Obi: Tinubu borrowed more in 2 years than 3 Presidents combined.

 Torchlight news.


Obi: Tinubu Borrowed More in 2 Years Than 3 Presidents Combined




Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of dragging Nigeria’s democracy backwards and overseeing a period of severe national decline.

In a statement titled "Democracy in Decline: Reflecting on Two Years of Tinubu’s Governance", Obi offered a sweeping critique of Tinubu’s administration, marking its second anniversary with claims of economic collapse, policy failure, widespread corruption, and democratic backsliding.

“A comprehensive review of the past two years under President Tinubu shows that governance and policy delivery have drastically failed,” Obi said.

Democracy in Recession

Obi alleged that the core pillars of democracy—popular representation, rule of law, and transparency—have collapsed under Tinubu, citing state capture, impunity, and disregard for electoral norms.

“Our democracy is in recession. Rules for elections are ignored. Disqualified individuals hold public office. The very definition of democracy—government of the people, by the people, and for the people—no longer applies,” he said.

He urged President Tinubu to follow the example of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who acknowledged the flaws in his own election and sought reforms, and also commended Goodluck Jonathan’s concession in 2015 as an act of democratic maturity.

International Trips vs. Domestic Disconnect

Obi criticized Tinubu’s frequent international travels—over 30 trips in two years, totaling around 150 days abroad—suggesting he instead use that time to visit Nigeria’s 36 states.

“If the President spent just two days in each state, he could cover the entire country in 72 days—less than half of his time spent abroad,” Obi noted.

A Grim Scorecard

Obi painted a dire picture of Nigeria’s current state:

  • GDP decline: From $364 billion in May 2023 to $188 billion in 2025.
  • GDP per capita: Down from $1,640 to $835.
  • Poverty: 129 million Nigerians now live in multidimensional poverty, up from 38.9% to 54%.
  • Out-of-school children: Over 18.3 million—the highest globally.
  • Healthcare: Less than 20% of 30,000 primary health centers are functional.
  • SMEs collapse: About 7 million small businesses shut down; over 80 manufacturing firms closed.
  • Multinational exits: Over 15 global companies, including GSK, Diageo, P&G, and Shoprite, have left Nigeria.

Mounting Debt & Missing Impact

Obi highlighted a staggering increase in national debt under Tinubu, stating:

“Despite trillions supposedly saved from fuel subsidy removal, this government has borrowed more in two years than Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari combined. Today, Nigeria’s public debt stands at nearly N188 trillion, yet there’s no visible improvement in education, health, or poverty reduction.”

He also condemned the reported N7 trillion in budget padding for 2025 as a clear sign of worsening corruption.

“Budget manipulation has become normalized. Nigeria has become a crime scene where national funds are misappropriated without consequence.”

Mental Health and Hunger Crisis

The former Anambra governor also drew attention to a national mental health crisis, with stress, depression, and anxiety on the rise. Hunger, fueled by soaring food costs and mass unemployment, has reached unprecedented levels.

“Based on the Global Hunger Index, Nigeria is now one of the world’s hungriest nations. People cannot afford food, and the country faces a mental health emergency.”

Conclusion

Peter Obi concluded his statement by urging urgent course correction:

“The government is more focused on propaganda, blame-shifting, and gaslighting the public than on achieving genuine progress. We must put an end to this troubling governance era.”


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Labour Party Lawmakers as an Appendage to APC Majority Lawmakers: A Huge Question Mark on Peter Obi’s Leadership

Image
  The Labour Party (LP) made an unprecedented impact in the 2023 general elections, largely due to the influence of Mr Peter Obi and the Obidient movement. Before then, it was almost unthinkable for a third-force party to achieve significant electoral success in Nigeria. However, against all odds, the LP secured eight senatorial seats and 34 seats in the House of Representatives as of March 7, 2023. Among those elected were individuals from humble backgrounds, including a former commercial motorcyclist and a motor park loading agent, further reinforcing the movement’s appeal to ordinary Nigerians. Labour Party’s Crisis and the Loss of Legislative Influence To the disappointment of many supporters, the Labour Party is currently experiencing severe internal disarray. At least one senator and five members of the House of Representatives have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Even more concerning is that the remaining LP lawmakers in the National Assembly appear ...
Read more

Chief Priest holds his First-Ever Stage Performance at his birthday party in Owerri

Image
Chief Priest’s First-Ever Stage Performance: A Night of Emotions, Gratitude & Celebration in Owerri Owerri, the heart of Eastern Nigeria, witnessed a night of history, emotions, and gratitude as celebrity businessman and socialite, Cubana Chief Priest , took the stage for his first-ever live performance —and it happened on his own birthday. The event, which was packed with fans, celebrities, and well-wishers, was more than just a celebration of another year; it was a heartfelt tribute to his roots, his supporters, and a dear friend he lost. A Moment of Silence for Ifeanyi Ubah Before the music, before the cheers, before the energy hit the roof, Chief Priest paused the night with an emotional tribute. The entire venue fell silent as he led a minute of silence for his late friend, Ifeanyi Ubah . The bond they shared was well known, and this moment was a reflection of how much he still carried the weight of the loss. Owerri: The City of His Beginnings As the night moved forward,...
Read more

Forbidden Flames.... Torchlight for Twilight.

Image
By Ogbu A.M. The traffic buzzed outside their Lekki apartment as Emeka sat quietly in the living room, his eyes fixed on his phone, though his mind was miles away. Lagos had a way of wearing people out—but nothing had worn him down like what he’d just learned. His best friend, Charles, had dropped the bomb casually while they shared beers at a bar in Victoria Island. "Guy, I no dey try cause wahala, but I think say you suppose know wetin your wife dey do. Ngozi talk say Chioma dey knack her oga for office. That Ndubisi guy." It had hit Emeka like a slap. For days, he pretended he hadn’t heard it. But now, as he watched Chioma humming in the kitchen, moving gracefully like nothing was wrong, he knew Charles wasn’t lying. Her phone was always face-down. Late meetings. A new perfume. The soft smile she had when she texted someone she wouldn’t name. And then there was Ngozi—Chioma’s younger sister. She had moved in temporarily while job-hunting, according to Chioma. Young, v...
Read more