The media office of presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has fired back at those it labeled “surrogate campaigners of President Bola Tinubu” over their comments questioning the NDC flag bearer, whom they alleged was overhyped and his popularity overrated.
Describing the comments as “laughable argument”, the Peter Obi Media Office, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jr., and made available to newsmen today, presented 10 points “to back up all the ratings Peter Obi is currently enjoying in the nation’s political space” which it stressed “actually prepared him for the Presidency” as well “ten failures of Tinubu’s presidency that Nigerians cannot ignore.”
People&Politics reproduces the statement: “1. Peter Obi managed a state before seeking to manage a nation.
“He served as Governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, with interruptions arising from the political and legal battles surrounding his tenure. He eventually won re-election in 2010, completed his second term, and emerged as the best-performing state governor in his time.
“2. He demonstrated fiscal discipline.
“As a public servant, one of the strongest claims in his governance record is that Anambra became one of the least-indebted states while he was governor, and his administration accumulated substantial savings and investments. His 2023 manifesto records approximately $500 million in investments and savings, including $156 million in dollar-denominated bonds.
“3. He showed that government could save rather than merely spend.
“This is perhaps one of the clearest contrasts in his political message: leaving substantial financial reserves behind after leaving office. The record presented in his manifesto includes local and foreign currency savings and investments.
“4. He made education a central development investment.
“His administration returned mission schools to their original owners and established partnerships with them. His manifesto says Anambra subsequently moved from 24th to first position in WAEC/NECO performance for three consecutive years.
“5. He invested in human capital rather than only physical projects.
“The record includes scholarships, support for education, healthcare investments and poverty mapping—an approach consistent with the argument that development is ultimately about improving people’s productive capacity.
“6. He demonstrated healthcare investment.
“His administration’s reported record includes investment in health institutions and accreditation; the 2023 manifesto states that more than 12 health institutions, including two hospitals, had secured accreditation by the end of his tenure, compared with none at the beginning.
“7. He attracted international development partnerships.
“The record includes engagement with organisations such as the World Bank, UNDP, DFID and the European Union, alongside diplomatic engagement with foreign governments. His manifesto also says he was recognised by the Millennium Development Goals Office and UNDP for the implementation of development programmes.
“8. He used data and planning in governance.
“His administration introduced poverty mapping and aerial mapping/planning initiatives, and developed the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) as a framework for coordinated development.
“9. He demonstrated experience outside politics.
“Before becoming governor, Obi had a career in business and banking, including senior roles in the financial sector. That gives his presidential case a combination of private-sector, financial-management and public-sector experience.
“10. He left office with a record that could be examined.
“That may ultimately be the strongest argument: Nigerians do not have to assess Peter Obi solely from campaign promises. They can examine what he did with Anambra’s resources when he had executive responsibility.
“Perhaps the bigger argument and the strongest political formulation is therefore that Peter Obi is not asking Nigerians to make him President so that he can learn how government works. He is asking Nigerians to entrust him with Nigeria after demonstrating, as Governor of Anambra, how he manages money, builds institutions, invests in human capital and plans for the future.”
On the other hand, the Media Office beamed its searchlight on the Tinubu presidency’s alleged failures.
Under the press statement’s sub-heading ‘Tinubu Presidency: Ten Failures Nigerians Cannot Ignore’, Zekeri Jr stated:
“1. Cost-of-living crisis — The removal of the petrol subsidy and other economic reforms have been accompanied by a severe rise in the cost of food, transportation and necessities.
“2. Inflation and declining purchasing power — Nigerians have seen their incomes buy substantially less, while wages have struggled to keep pace with prices.
“3. Naira instability — The sharp depreciation of the naira has increased the cost of imported goods, medicines, machinery and industrial inputs.
“4. Fuel-price shock — Petrol prices rose dramatically following subsidy reforms, placing additional pressure on households, businesses and transportation costs.
“5. Rising poverty and hardship — The central criticism is that the immediate burden of economic reforms has fallen disproportionately on ordinary Nigerians.
“6. Weak employment and economic opportunities — Despite repeated government assurances, many young Nigerians continue to face unemployment, underemployment and limited opportunities for productive work.
“7. Security challenges remain unresolved — Banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal violence continue to affect parts of the country, raising questions about the effectiveness of the government’s security strategy.
“8. Public trust and transparency concerns — Controversies surrounding government spending, appointments, procurement and the management of public resources have continued to generate questions about transparency and accountability.
“9. Perception of political rather than institutional governance — Critics argue that the administration has sometimes appeared more focused on political consolidation and 2027 calculations than on building strong, independent institutions.
“10. The gap between promises and lived experience — Perhaps the broadest criticism is that the administration’s reform narrative has not yet translated into a sufficiently visible improvement in the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians because of apparent corruption allegations all over the place.”
The Media Office asserted that in the face of these, “the fundamental question is not whether Tinubu inherited a difficult Nigeria. He did. The question is whether, after taking difficult decisions, Nigerians are better off today—and whether the government has convincingly demonstrated that today’s sacrifice is producing tomorrow’s prosperity. Your answer is an obvious capital NO.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Obi (l) and Tinubu.
