The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his recent remarks on hunger in the country, describing them as insensitive in the face of the growing economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians.
Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his official social media page on Friday, in response 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.
Reacting, Obi argued that while hunger has long been a global and national challenge, the current administration should be judged by how effectively it has addressed the country’s worsening economic conditions rather than by historical comparisons.
“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.
“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,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor maintained that food insecurity and poverty have deteriorated significantly since the Tinubu administration assumed office in 2023.
According to him, the number of Nigerians experiencing acute food insecurity has risen from about 17 million before the current administration took office to approximately 35 million, while those living in extreme poverty have increased from an estimated 87 million in 2023 to nearly 140 million.
Obi further claimed that Nigeria now has the highest number of people living in extreme poverty globally.
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He acknowledged that the current administration inherited major economic and security challenges but stressed that leadership should be evaluated by its ability to deliver meaningful improvements.
“No one disputes that this administration inherited serious challenges. However, leadership is measured not by the challenges inherited but by the results achieved.
“The government must honestly acknowledge that its response has fallen far short of what the situation demanded,” he stated.
Obi attributed the worsening economic conditions to persistent insecurity, poor economic management, fiscal indiscipline, wasteful public spending and inadequate investment in productive sectors.
He called on the Federal Government to prioritise investment in education, healthcare, agriculture, security and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, arguing that such measures would stimulate production, create jobs and reduce poverty across the country.
