Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks on hunger in Nigeria, describing them as insensitive.
Obi made the remarks in a statement on his official social media platforms on Friday. He was reacting to comments Tinubu made while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During the meeting, President Tinubu told the bishops that hunger had always existed in Nigeria, even before he was born.
In response, Obi said while hunger is not new to the country, dismissing the current crisis in that manner shows a lack of empathy for millions of Nigerians facing severe economic hardship.
“I watched with deep concern the statement made by President Bola Tinubu to the Catholic Bishops, that there has always been hunger in Nigeria, even before he was born,” Obi stated.
“While it is true that hunger has been a part of human life and has existed in our country for decades, such a statement appears insensitive to the plight of the millions of Nigerians who face worsening economic hardship today.”
The former Anambra State governor pointed to worsening food insecurity and poverty under the current administration.
He noted that the number of Nigerians facing acute food insecurity has risen from about 17 million before Tinubu took office in 2023 to approximately 35 million now.
Obi added that the number of people living in extreme poverty has increased from an estimated 87 million in 2023 to nearly 140 million, making Nigeria the country with the highest number of people in extreme poverty globally.
“No one disputes that this administration inherited serious challenges. However, leadership is measured not by the challenges inherited but by the results achieved,” he said.
Obi attributed the deteriorating conditions to persistent insecurity, poor economic management, fiscal indiscipline, wasteful spending, and insufficient investment in key sectors.
He called on the government to prioritise education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and support for small businesses to create jobs, boost production, and alleviate poverty.
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