Nigeria’s opposition leader, Peter Obi, has once again criticized the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that the country has regressed under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In a striking comparison, he suggested that the military government of Ibrahim Babangida performed better in economic management than the current administration.
Speaking at the launch of Mr. Babangida’s book on Thursday at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, the former Anambra governor highlighted Nigeria’s stagnation in human development compared to its peers.
“Using our contemporary peers as a benchmark, when IBB left office in 1992, countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana were all in the low Human Development Index (HDI) category—just like Nigeria,” Mr. Obi stated. “Today, however, these nations have advanced to medium and high HDI levels, while Nigeria remains in the low HDI category, having either stagnated or declined.”
Referencing the keynote speaker’s remarks, he added, “The first is the keynote speaker’s notable quotation in French, Rien n’a changé, meaning ‘Nothing much has changed.’ In the case of Nigeria, we are worse off than we were during IBB’s era.”
Mr. Obi commended Mr. Babangida’s economic contributions, particularly his support for entrepreneurship and private sector growth, describing them as “immeasurable.”
“Under his leadership, Nigeria witnessed substantial growth, particularly in the financial sector,” he said. “He played a key role in fostering a united and equitable Nigeria and economic landscape, ensuring policies that strengthened national cohesion and economic development.”
Since finishing third in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Obi has remained a vocal critic of Mr. Tinubu’s administration, repeatedly contesting the legitimacy of the election results.
