‘50 million Nigerians pushed into poverty under your watch’ — Obi slams Tinubu

Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging that over 50 million Nigerians have been pushed into poverty since the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power.

In a statement on Tuesday, Obi expressed concern over a recent World Bank report showing that about 139 million Nigerians now live in poverty, a sharp increase from 87 million recorded before the APC government assumed office.

“What this means is that in two years under the APC regime, over 50 million Nigerians were sent into poverty. This is a heartbreaking reflection of how deeply our nation is failing its citizens,” Obi said in a post on X.

The World Bank, in its latest economic report, warned that Nigeria risks losing hard-won reform gains if policies are not translated into tangible improvements in citizens’ welfare.

Reacting to the report, the presidency dismissed the figures as exaggerated and “detached from current realities.”

Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Tinubu, said while the government values its partnership with the World Bank, the figures must be “properly contextualised.”

Obi, however, faulted the government’s response, saying the focus should be on finding solutions to economic hardship rather than denying the situation.

He described the rising poverty rate as evidence that the administration’s economic reforms are ineffective due to “a lack of clear planning and purposeful implementation.”

The former Anambra governor urged Tinubu to prioritise policies that promote production over consumption, support small businesses and farmers, and invest in education and healthcare.

“No nation can truly rise when the majority of its people are trapped in poverty,” Obi added. “With the right leadership, we can make Nigeria work for every Nigerian.”