‘I can change Nigeria in two years’ — Peter Obi blasts Tinubu, calls for economic reforms

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that poor governance and a lack of productivity have deepened Nigeria’s economic crisis.

Speaking in an interview on Arise News Prime Time on Tuesday night, Obi condemned the decision to float the naira without a solid foundation for increased productivity, as well as the rapid rise in the country’s debt profile.

He lamented that the cost of debt servicing now exceeds budget allocations for critical sectors like health and education.

Drawing a direct contrast, Obi argued that if he had been elected president, Nigeria would have experienced “drastic positive changes” within two years.

“The President has been in office for almost two years, and look at where we are. It means you can change things in two years.

If I were there, you would have seen considerable improvements in critical areas. I would tackle corruption head-on and reduce the cost of governance.

Every borrowed naira would be invested in key sectors,” Obi stated.He expressed concerns about Nigeria’s growing interest rates, which he said have made it increasingly difficult for businesses to survive.“The current administration inherited a debt of about N17 trillion; today, it is over N170 trillion.

Companies are shutting down because of an interest rate of over 40%. How do you expect businesses to thrive?” he asked.Obi further emphasized that under his leadership, primary healthcare centers and schools would have been a top priority, noting that more than 70% of PHCs are currently non-functional.

Amid the internal wrangling in the Labour Party (LP), Obi accused the federal government of fueling the crisis to destabilize the opposition.

However, he reaffirmed his loyalty to the party, adding that any change in his political affiliation would be announced openly.“I am still in the Labour Party.

The disarray you see in LP is caused by the federal government. If there’s any change, I will let Nigerians know,” he said.