Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate Peter Obi Criticizes President Tinubu’s Statements
In response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s remarks lamenting the state of the nation’s deficit inherited from the previous administration, Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, criticized Tinubu’s assertions.
Tinubu had expressed concerns about Nigeria’s deficiencies in port, power infrastructure, and agro-allied facilities, vowing to address these issues while refraining from making excuses despite inheriting assets from his predecessors.
In a statement released via X on Thursday, Peter Obi faulted the APC-led government for failing to transparently disclose the extent of the deficit inherited, emphasizing the need for accountability in governance to provide clarity on the nation’s status.
Obi recalled how the APC administration, upon assuming power in 2015, also blamed the previous government for inheriting a bankrupt nation, subsequently increasing the country’s debt profile.
Highlighting the importance of responsible governance, Obi stressed the necessity of transparency, urging the government to reveal the actual extent of the inherited deficit to provide clarity on the country’s present status and trajectory.
He criticized the previous APC administration for escalating the country’s debt from N12.6 trillion in 2015 to N87 trillion in 2023 without notable improvements in crucial sectors such as education, healthcare, poverty eradication, and security.
Obi emphasized the urgent need for tangible and measurable steps to address the deteriorating situation across various developmental indices, expressing concerns over government expenditures amid the recent revelations about the nation’s financial state.
Furthermore, he reiterated his stance on the excessive cost of governance, advocating for a significant reduction in non-essential expenditures while channeling available resources towards critical development sectors like security, healthcare, education, and poverty eradication.
Ultimately, Obi stressed the importance of implementing verifiable strategies to enhance the nation’s situation and address pressing issues affecting Nigerians on a daily basis.
