***Says Democracy Is in Retreat, Decries Corruption, Insecurity, Economic Collapse
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, delivered a scathing Democracy Day message on Wednesday, accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of running the country from abroad and presiding over what he described as “two years of failed governance, rising poverty, and democratic backsliding.”
In a statement titled “Democracy in Decline: Reflecting on Two Years of Tinubu’s Governance,” Obi said Nigeria is on a dangerous trajectory, marked by impunity, institutional decay, and worsening insecurity.
He called on the President to abandon what he described as a detached and ineffective style of leadership.
“Mr. President, you’ve made over 30 international trips in just two years—spending nearly 150 days outside the country. Yet, touring all 36 states of Nigeria, even for two days each, would take only 72 days. The message is clear: you’re more present abroad than at home,” Obi said.
The former Anambra governor warned that Nigeria can no longer be described as a functioning democracy.
“We’ve lost the essence of governance of the people, by the people, and for the people. Today, rules are broken, due process ignored, and public offices occupied by unqualified individuals through questionable means,” he said.
Obi urged Tinubu to emulate the humility and courage of past presidents like Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, who, he said, acknowledged systemic flaws and took steps to protect democratic values. “Leadership begins with truth—truth about our failures and the courage to fix them,” he stated.
He then gave a sector-by-sector breakdown of what he described as national decline under the current administration:
Economy: Nigeria’s GDP, Obi noted, has plummeted from $364 billion to $188 billion—nearly a 50% drop. Per capita income has fallen from $1,640 to $835, while the poverty rate now stands at 54%, affecting 129 million Nigerians.
Education: Over 18.3 million children are out of school, the highest figure in the world. “Students take science classes without laboratories and sit for exams by candlelight,” he lamented.
Healthcare: Fewer than 20% of the country’s 30,000 primary health centres are functional. “Nigeria is now ranked the worst place on Earth to give birth, with a woman dying every seven minutes,” Obi said, citing UN data.
On Business and Jobs, Obi said over 7 million SMEs and 80 manufacturers have shut down. More than 15 multinational companies—including GSK, P&G, Shoprite, and Diageo—have exited the Nigerian market due to harsh operating conditions.
Explaining further in the area of Hunger and Mental Health, he indicated that Nigeria now ranks among the world’s hungriest nations.
“WHO estimates that 20 million Nigerians suffer from mental illness, and 59% of the population faces daily stress driven by poverty, inflation, and insecurity.”
Obi accused the Tinubu administration of encouraging grand corruption, reckless borrowing, and fiscal irresponsibility.
“Despite trillions reportedly saved from fuel subsidy removal, this government has borrowed more in two years than Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari combined,” he said.
He described the 2025 budget as “a crime scene,” citing ₦7 trillion in questionable insertions flagged by civic groups like BudgIT.
“There is no measurable impact in core sectors like health, education, or social welfare. Public funds are vanishing while propaganda replaces performance,” Obi charged.
He concluded with a rallying cry for accountability, transparency, and people-centered governance.
“Nigeria is in decline. But the future remains ours to shape—if we choose justice over impunity, truth over propaganda, and people over politics.”