Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s worsening socio-economic crisis, describing the nation as on the brink of collapse.
In his New Year’s message, Obi called on President Bola Tinubu to abandon complacency and enact urgent, transparent reforms to address the country’s growing hardships.
Obi painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s economic realities, revealing that over 100 million citizens now live in extreme poverty, with another 150 million grappling with multidimensional hardship.
He lamented the nation’s fall from Africa’s largest economy in 2014 to its current fourth position, citing a drastically reduced GDP of $200 billion and a per capita income of just $1,000.
The hunger crisis also took center stage in Obi’s address. He referenced the 2024 Global Hunger Index, where Nigeria ranks 110th out of 127 countries, and criticized the inadequacy of the new N70,000 minimum wage, which he argued cannot even afford a bag of rice.
“This reflects the harsh realities of ordinary Nigerians struggling to survive,” Obi stated.
In a sharp critique of Tinubu’s leadership, Obi pointed to the President’s extensive foreign travels, highlighting that Tinubu has spent 180 days abroad within his 580 days in office.
He argued that such prolonged absences distract from addressing Nigeria’s pressing domestic challenges.
The former governor urged Tinubu to redirect his focus to the nation’s internal crises, suggesting a state-by-state tour to personally witness the deteriorating economic and security conditions.
He emphasized the need for direct engagement with Nigerians as a vital step toward restoring public confidence in the government.
