Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plunging over 50 million Nigerians into poverty through what he described as misguided and poorly executed economic policies.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Obi cited a World Bank report released on October 8, 2025, which, according to him, revealed that 139 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line—a steep rise from the 87 million recorded in 2023, when Tinubu assumed office.
Titled “APC Government Policies and Style Have Impoverished Several Million Nigerians in Just Two Years,” Obi said the figures were “a heartbreaking reflection of how deeply our nation is failing its citizens.”
He lamented that rather than prompt urgent policy intervention, the report had drawn only defensive responses from the government.
“What is even more concerning is that this devastating revelation has not led to an emergency and national discussion on how to effectively pull millions of our people out of poverty, but instead caused a rebuttal from the government, when the news already reflects the daily struggles of the ordinary Nigerian,” Obi said.
The former governor argued that the administration’s economic reforms had failed to yield tangible benefits because they were not backed by a clear, strategic framework focused on improving citizens’ welfare.
“The reasons these reforms are not working are due to the lack of a clear plan and determination to channel the supposed gains into feasible and productive areas that will benefit the people and improve overall growth,” he said.
Obi urged the Tinubu administration to shift from consumption-driven policies to production-based reforms, emphasising the need to empower small businesses, farmers, and key sectors such as education and healthcare.
“No nation can truly rise when the majority of its people are trapped in poverty. With the right leadership, we can make Nigeria work for every Nigerian,” he added.
