April 2, 2025 – Nearly two years into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government’s performance, stating that it has failed to deliver on its promises to Nigerians.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, made these remarks during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time program on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. In his assessment, he argued that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has not made any meaningful impact on critical sectors and that, had he been in office, Nigerians would have witnessed tangible improvements.
“You Can Change Things in Two Years” – Obi
Highlighting his vision for governance, Obi emphasized that two years is enough time to implement significant reforms, particularly in tackling corruption and reducing the cost of governance.
“The President that is there today—how many years has he spent? Two years. And you can see where we are. That means you can change things in two years,” Obi stated.
“If I were in office, you would have seen considerable change in critical areas. I would have tackled corruption head-on. I would have reduced the cost of governance, and you would see it—people would feel it.”
Obi further argued that government borrowing should be directed towards productive investments, particularly in healthcare, rather than on non-essential projects.
“Our primary healthcare today—70 percent of it is not functional. Yet, we spent over N35 billion on a conference center. Which conference? Who is coming for the conference?” he questioned.
“You need to invest money properly. Borrowed money should be invested in critical areas where it makes a difference.”
Obi’s Vision for Agriculture: Turning Nigeria into a Rice-Producing Giant
Drawing comparisons with other countries, Obi lamented Nigeria’s underutilized agricultural potential, particularly in rice production.
“In Bangladesh, a country with just 148,000 square kilometers of land, they produce about 60 million metric tons of rice. Nigeria, with more than six times that land size, can’t even produce 10 percent of that,” Obi noted.
According to him, Nigeria’s vast land resources, if properly managed, could position the country as a leading rice producer, significantly reducing dependence on imports and strengthening the economy.
On Naira Devaluation: Obi Agrees, but Faults Implementation
While Obi supported Tinubu’s decision to devalue the naira, he criticized the manner in which the policy was executed, arguing that currency devaluation should be accompanied by strong productivity measures to prevent economic instability.
“There’s nothing wrong with devaluation, but I would have allowed the naira to float in an organized manner. There must be productivity—the idea of allowing a currency to float is to encourage exports and attract investment,” Obi explained.
He warned that floating the naira without boosting domestic production would only worsen economic hardships for Nigerians.
“Floating the naira without productivity is a double whammy,” he cautioned.
A Continuous Critique of APC Governance
This is not the first time Peter Obi has criticized Tinubu’s administration. Since the conclusion of the 2023 presidential election, Obi has remained one of the most vocal opposition figures, consistently challenging government policies and advocating for reforms in governance, economic strategy, and national development.
As Nigeria grapples with economic uncertainty, inflation, and widespread hardship, Obi’s remarks highlight growing public concerns over the administration’s ability to deliver meaningful change. With three years remaining in Tinubu’s tenure, Nigerians are watching closely to see whether the government will make the transformational impact it promised.
