On Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, ex‑governor and opposition heavyweight Peter Obi delivered what felt less like a celebration and more like a scathing indictment.
In a message dripping with urgency and frustration, Obi turned the national spotlight on what he calls rampant excesses, crushing debt, and the relentless daily suffering of ordinary Nigerians under APC rule.
A Blistering Tone, Not a Festive One
Rather than praise or cautious optimism, Obi chose tone that was fierce, confrontational, and unapologetically raw.
He accused the ruling party of turning Nigeria into “a debt machine” whose borrowing binge has yielded little “regenerative development” to show for the trillions spent.
He warned that the citizenry is now paying the price — in hunger, insecurity, and a rising cost of living that swallows wages whole.
He did not mince words: “Food insecurity has become our national norm,” he said, painting a grim image of households forced to borrow just to eat.
The newly approved minimum wage, he argued, is a cruel joke — unable to secure even a fraction of basic staples like rice or beans.
He flagged chronic power outages and grid collapses, deriding Nigeria’s reputation as “the generator country.”
He demanded transparency of borrowing, a tougher clampdown on corruption, and a slash in the cost of governance so public funds can be redirected to schools, hospitals, security, and jobs.
To Obi, this is no ordinary Independence Day message — it’s a rallying cry for accountability.
The Numbers He Brings (and the Questions Behind Them)
Obi didn’t just throw accusations; he backed them with data (or at least strong claims).
He highlighted how the country’s debt shot from ₦12.6 trillion in 2015 to ₦87 trillion by 2023 — all the while, key development indices stagnated or regressed.
He also zeroed in on the recent supplementary budget, hinting that many line items are filled with nonessential or wasteful spending.
But the boldest move: he challenged the government to disclose what it inherited — to show the exact figures and assets the APC claims it “inherited” in 2023. According to Obi, without that transparency, every future budget or borrowing is built on shifting sand.
APC Fires Back
Predictably, the ruling party did not remain silent. Through spokesperson Felix Morka, the APC has accused Obi of being a perennial doomsayer — someone who frames crisis and hardship to generate headlines.
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They argue that many of Obi’s critiques ignore the “unmistakable progress” they say the Tinubu administration has made: trade surpluses, rising oil output, and debt-servicing ratios that (they claim) are improving.
They insist Obi’s accusations are ill-timed political theatrics rather than constructive engagement.
