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Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s comments on hunger in Nigeria, describing them as insensitive to the struggles faced by millions of citizens.
Obi, in a statement titled “Hunger and the Insensitivity of Mr. President,” said he watched with “deep concern” the President’s remarks during a meeting with Catholic Bishops, where Tinubu stated that hunger had always existed in Nigeria, even before he was born.
While acknowledging that hunger has existed for decades, Obi said the focus should be on the current reality facing Nigerians and the outcomes of government policies.
“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 presidential candidate argued that food insecurity has worsened under the current administration, citing estimates that the number of Nigerians facing acute food insecurity has increased from about 17 million before 2023 to approximately 35 million today.
He also claimed that extreme poverty has risen significantly, moving from an estimated 87 million Nigerians before the administration assumed office to projections of nearly 140 million people currently living in extreme poverty.
Obi said although the government inherited economic and security challenges, leadership should be judged by measurable results rather than inherited difficulties.
“Leadership is measured not by the challenges inherited but by the results achieved,” he said.
He attributed the worsening hardship to factors including insecurity, poor economic management, fiscal indiscipline, excessive government spending, and insufficient investment in productive sectors.
Obi called for greater focus on education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and support for small businesses, arguing that policies should prioritise job creation and increased production.
“A responsible government must prioritise investment in education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and small businesses while pursuing policies that create jobs, expand production, and lift people out of poverty,” Obi said.
He maintained that his vision for the country remained centred on building what he described as “A New Nigeria.”
