Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his comments on hunger in Nigeria, describing the remarks as insensitive to the plight of millions of citizens facing worsening economic hardship.
In a statement issued on Friday, Obi reacted to Tinubu’s remarks to Catholic bishops during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, where the President reportedly said hunger had always existed in Nigeria, even before he was born.
Obi acknowledged that hunger has been a longstanding challenge in the country but argued that the current administration should be judged by its ability to improve living conditions rather than by historical realities.
According to him, about 17 million Nigerians were facing acute food insecurity before the Tinubu administration assumed office in 2023, largely due to insecurity, armed conflict, banditry and flooding. He claimed that the figure has now risen to about 35 million people, indicating a significant deterioration in food security.
The former Anambra State governor also expressed concern over rising poverty levels, stating that Nigeria’s population living in extreme poverty has increased from an estimated 87 million before the current administration took office to nearly 140 million.
Obi said while the government inherited major economic and security challenges, leadership should be assessed by the results it delivers rather than the problems it inherits.
He attributed the country’s worsening economic situation to persistent insecurity, poor economic management, fiscal indiscipline, wasteful public spending and inadequate investment in productive sectors.
The former presidential candidate urged the Federal Government to prioritise investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, security and small businesses, stressing that such measures would create jobs, boost production and help lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
