Obi: What I would’ve done differently

Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has criticised several policies of the Tinubu-led administration, noting that while some of the reforms are necessary, their implementation has been poorly executed.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s Morning Show, Obi reiterated that he, too, would have removed the fuel subsidy, but insisted he would have done so differently.

“I have consistently maintained that I would have removed the fuel subsidy. It is in my manifesto. But I would have done it in an organised manner,” he said.

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Obi said the issue was not the removal itself—which he supports—but the chaotic way it was carried out.

“Everybody knows the subsidy regime was riddled with criminality,” he said, adding that there was nothing wrong with ending it. However, he emphasised that the savings should have been channelled into critical sectors like education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.

Pressed on what he meant by “organised manner,” Obi said it would involve tackling corruption first, setting a clear price structure, and transparently outlining how and where the savings would be invested.

“You say we’re saving billions—where is the money? Where is it invested?” he asked pointedly.

On the Tinubu administration’s decision to float the naira, Obi acknowledged that currency floatation is not inherently wrong.

“There’s nothing wrong with devaluing or floating your currency, but you only do that when your economy is productive. We are not producing. There is nothing to attract investment,” he said.

Asked what his approach would have been, Obi said he would have focused on boosting agricultural and industrial output before attempting such a policy shift.

“I would have focused on increasing production first, then phased in the floatation gradually—tightening all leakages and eliminating criminality in the system,” he said.

He also criticised the prioritisation of mega infrastructure like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying national security should take precedence.

“Is the coastal road more important than securing Nigeria?” he asked. According to him, safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians should be the government’s top priority. “Whatever it takes to secure the country, I will do it,” he said.

‘No presidential aspirants more experienced than me’

Obi also asserted that his personal and professional journey distinguishes him from others seeking Nigeria’s highest political office.

He reaffirmed his commitment to national development and claimed that his diverse experience makes him uniquely qualified to lead.

“I am committed to a better Nigeria, and I have what it takes to deliver it,” Obi said. “Among all those aspiring to be president today, no one shares my background. I built a business from scratch in this country, served in the corporate world, and governed a state. I even turned one of the smallest banks into a N25 billion institution.”

Highlighting his track record in financial prudence, Obi noted that he left office without any debts and ensured Anambra State had significant savings.

“As governor, I didn’t leave any debt behind. In fact, I believe I saved more money than any other governor. Since leaving office, I have not collected a pension or gratuity—not even a bottle of water from the state,” he said.

To reinforce his claims of integrity, Obi challenged the authorities to seize any land allegedly allocated to him by the Anambra State Government.

Obi’s previous criticism of Tinubu’s administration

Obi has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, describing them as poorly executed and damaging to ordinary Nigerians.

In various public statements and media appearances, Obi has expressed concern over the removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of exchange rates, and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent monetary tightening—all of which, he argued, have worsened inflation and deepened poverty.

Speaking in his New Year address and other recent interviews, Obi said Nigeria’s economy had deteriorated under the current administration. He cited a sharp decline in GDP from over $500 billion in 2014 to around $200 billion in 2024, and a fall in per capita income from more than $3,000 to below $1,000.

According to him, the socioeconomic condition of the country continues to worsen, with more than 100 million people living in poverty and over 150 million suffering from multidimensional poverty.

He also criticised the way fuel subsidy was removed, arguing that the process lacked transparency and failed to provide adequate support for vulnerable citizens.

On exchange rate reforms, Obi reiterated his support for a unified exchange rate, but faulted the implementation under Tinubu’s leadership, which he said triggered inflation and worsened the cost of living.

He maintained that such reforms should be accompanied by deliberate policies to boost domestic production, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and provide social protection.

Obi also decried the recent increases in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) and Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), stating that the changes have made credit inaccessible to businesses.

According to him, Nigeria cannot grow its economy by making it harder for producers and employers to thrive. “Manufacturing is struggling, and investors are pulling out,” he said.

In March 2025, Obi drew a comparison between Nigeria’s economy and that of Indonesia, noting that while Indonesia has seen steady growth in GDP and per capita income over the past decade, Nigeria’s economy has sharply contracted.

Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election, has remained vocal on national issues and continues to advocate for policies that prioritise education, healthcare, and job creation and is seen as one of the key members of the coalition of opposition leaders against President Tinubu’s re-election along with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had ran with him on the joint ticket of the People’s Democratic Party for the 2019 presidential election. Analysts have suggested that should both agree to work together for the 2027 presidential election, they would be able to give President Tinubu a run for his money.

Presidency reacts

Meanwhile, the presidency has fired back at  Obi, accusing him of lacking depth in governance and economic matters. The criticism came in a statement by Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication.

In the statement, posted on Bwala’s verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, he  expressed surprise at Obi’s apparent endorsement of major economic reforms—such as the removal of fuel subsidy and exchange rate unification—arguing that Obi’s support revealed inconsistencies in his positions.

“He agreed with our policy of removal of subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange; he claimed he would have done it better than us in an ‘organised manner.

“He was asked what the ‘organised manner is. He played with words, yet to arrive at agreeing with us.Anybody with a rational mind knows these guys are just looking to grab power, but they don’t have any alternative agenda,” Bwala said.

He described Obi’s responses as indicative of a lack of preparedness and policy clarity, accusing opposition figures of prioritising power over substance.

“He seems to have very shallow knowledge of economics and governance,” he said.

He also questioned the integrity of the interview, suggesting that Obi benefited from a favourable media environment.

“Remember, this is even an interview anchored by a member of his Obidient movement.

“That’s why you don’t hear ‘I put it to you’ and no barking like a rottweiler; Yet ‘if it didn’t Dey it didn’t Dey,” he said, referencing a popular phrase used by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Bwala’s statement adds to the growing tension between the Tinubu administration and opposition leaders like Obi, who has remained one of the president’s most consistent critics, especially on economic, security, and social welfare issues.