Obi Takes on Tinubu: ‘I Would Have Fixed Corruption and Governance in Two Years’

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate in Nigeria, Peter Obi, has once again criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that after nearly two years in office, the government has failed to deliver meaningful impact.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time program on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the former Anambra State governor outlined five major areas where he would have implemented significant changes if he were president.

Obi asserted that in two years, his administration would have tackled corruption aggressively and significantly reduced the cost of governance in a way that Nigerians could feel directly.

“The President has spent two years, and you can see where we are. That means things can be changed in two years. If I were in office, you would have seen a considerable shift in critical areas. I would have tackled corruption head-on and reduced the cost of governance visibly,” Obi stated.

He also emphasized the need for strategic investment in healthcare, lamenting that 70% of Nigeria’s primary healthcare centers are non-functional. He criticized the government’s financial priorities, pointing out that while over ₦35 billion was spent on a conference center, essential sectors like healthcare remain underfunded.

“Our primary healthcare today is 70% non-functional, yet we spent over ₦35 billion on a conference center. Who is coming for the conference? You need to invest borrowed money properly in critical sectors,” he added.

On agriculture, Obi drew comparisons with Bangladesh, noting that despite having significantly less land, the country produces around 60 million metric tons of rice, while Nigeria struggles to achieve even 10% of that output despite its vast land resources.

“In Bangladesh, with 148,000 km² of land, they produce about 60 million metric tons of rice. Meanwhile, Nigeria, with over six times that land size, cannot do 10% of that. We should be utilizing our land effectively for agriculture,” Obi remarked.

While acknowledging that President Tinubu’s devaluation of the naira was necessary, Obi criticized the way it was implemented. He stated that he would have floated the naira in a structured manner to support productivity, ensuring that the currency devaluation served to boost exports and attract foreign investment.

“There’s nothing wrong with devaluation, but I would have allowed the naira to float in an organized manner. Currency devaluation should support productivity, so that exports increase and foreign investors come in,” he explained.

Obi’s remarks come as Nigeria continues to grapple with economic challenges, rising inflation, and concerns over governance and transparency. His critique highlights ongoing debates about the effectiveness of Tinubu’s administration and alternative policy approaches that could shape Nigeria’s future.