The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for engaging in extravagant spending during a time of national crisis.
Obi expressed concern that 38 million Nigerians are on the brink of extreme hunger and pointed out that unnecessary government expenditures are worsening the situation.
Obi cited examples of this wasteful spending, such as the purchase of a new presidential jet for $100 million, ₦21 billion allocated for the renovation of the vice president’s lodge, and ₦15 billion for the construction of the National Assembly clinic.
He emphasized that it is unfair for the government to expect sacrifices from the people while continuing with lavish expenditures, stating, “You cannot ask people to fast while you are feasting.”
Speaking in an interview with News Central TV, Obi stressed the need for the Federal Government to prioritize the country’s limited resources on critical areas like health, education, poverty alleviation, and security.
He highlighted the urgency of addressing food insecurity and unemployment by investing in agriculture, noting that Nigeria, as the “poverty capital of the world,” must focus on human and food security to tackle the current crises.
Obi also hinted at the possibility of forming a coalition with other opposition parties in an effort to provide a solution to the issues of hunger and insecurity before the 2027 presidential election.