Peter Obi Accuses Tinubu, APC Of Driving 50 Million Nigerians Into Poverty

By Testy Gossip

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of plunging more than 50 million Nigerians into poverty within two years of assuming office.

Speaking on Wednesday, Obi referenced a recent World Bank report which indicated that over 139 million Nigerians are now living below the poverty line — a sharp increase from the 87 million recorded in 2023. He attributed the worsening situation to what he described as “anti-people policies and poor economic management” by the Tinubu administration.

“The government’s so-called reforms are hurting ordinary Nigerians. Our people are poorer, hungrier, and more hopeless than ever before. What we need are human-centered economic policies, not cosmetic reforms that benefit only the elite,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor criticized the federal government’s handling of key economic sectors, including energy, agriculture, and manufacturing, arguing that current policies have failed to cushion the impact of inflation, unemployment, and currency devaluation on citizens.

Obi also urged the Tinubu administration to redirect spending towards education, healthcare, and small-scale enterprises, saying such investments are the surest path to rebuilding the economy and restoring public confidence.

However, the APC swiftly dismissed Obi’s comments, describing them as “politically motivated and misleading.” Party spokespersons argued that the government’s economic reforms, though tough, are necessary to correct structural imbalances inherited from previous administrations.

“President Tinubu’s policies are long-term solutions designed to stabilize the economy and attract foreign investment. The opposition is only trying to weaponize temporary hardship for political gain,” the APC stated.

Economic experts have noted that while Nigeria’s reforms—such as fuel subsidy removal and currency unification—aim to strengthen fiscal discipline, the short-term fallout has indeed deepened the cost-of-living crisis for millions.

As debates continue, Nigerians remain divided over whether the ongoing reforms will eventually bring relief or further hardship to Africa’s most populous nation.Testy Gossip