Abuja, Nigeria — June 6, 2025
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of undermining democracy and failing in key areas of governance, stating that Nigeria’s democratic institutions have suffered significant setbacks under his administration.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Democracy in Decline: Reflecting on Two Years of Tinubu’s Governance”, Obi criticised the Tinubu-led government for what he described as poor policy direction, rising poverty, deepening insecurity, and widespread corruption.
“Our democracy is in recession. The essential features of a democratic state are missing under this administration. Rules are ignored, institutions are weakened, and impunity reigns,” Obi said.
Excessive Foreign Trips Criticised
Obi slammed Tinubu’s frequent foreign travels, claiming that the President had embarked on over 30 international trips, spending nearly 150 days abroad, while neglecting pressing domestic issues.
“If the President visited all 36 states of Nigeria for just two days each, it would take 72 days—less than half the time he has spent outside the country,” Obi argued, urging Tinubu to engage more with local communities.
Economic Decline and Worsening Poverty
Obi painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s economic performance under Tinubu, citing several statistics:
- GDP declined from $364 billion in May 2023 to $188 billion in 2025
- GDP per capita dropped from $1,640 to $835
- Multidimensional poverty rose to affect 54% of Nigerians
- 129 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line
He also highlighted a surge in rural poverty, referencing recent World Bank data showing that 75% of Nigerians in rural areas are impoverished.
“This government is not only failing to grow the economy, it is pushing more Nigerians into poverty,” he said.
Collapse of Key Sectors
The former Anambra State governor condemned the deteriorating state of education and healthcare, citing the following:
- Over 18.3 million children are out of school—the highest globally
- Students write exams by candlelight, with no functional science labs or computers
- Less than 20% of 30,000 primary healthcare centres across Nigeria are operational
- Nigeria has been named the worst country in the world to give birth, with one maternal death occurring every seven minutes
He added that mental health issues are on the rise, with 59% of the population reportedly experiencing daily stress.
Mass Business Closures, Hunger, and Inflation
Obi further disclosed that:
- 7 million SMEs have shut down in the past two years
- Over 80 manufacturing firms and 15 multinationals, including GSK, Shoprite, and P&G, have exited Nigeria
- Food insecurity has worsened, making Nigeria one of the hungriest nations globally, according to the Global Hunger Index
“Millions of Nigerians can no longer afford basic meals. The situation is dire, and the government’s response has been propaganda and blame games,” he said.
Accusations of Massive Borrowing and Budget Padding
Obi criticised the government’s fiscal management, alleging that it has borrowed more in two years than the previous three administrations combined. He estimated Nigeria’s total public debt at nearly ₦188 trillion.
He also accused the National Assembly of inflating the 2025 national budget by ₦7 trillion, citing reports by budget tracking group BudgIT.
“Our budget has become a crime scene. There is no accountability, and corruption is thriving under this administration,” Obi alleged.
Call for Leadership and Accountability
The former LP presidential candidate called on Tinubu to emulate former leaders like Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who publicly admitted the flaws in his election process, and Goodluck Jonathan, who peacefully conceded defeat in 2015.
“We must end this era of impunity and restore democratic norms. Nigeria is declining rapidly, and urgent corrective steps are needed to salvage the country,” he concluded.
