Peter Obi Blasts Tinubu Government Over Mismanagement of Public Funds
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he describes as reckless spending and poor prioritisation of national resources, saying vital sectors like healthcare are suffering while funds are diverted to luxury expenditures.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Wednesday, Obi drew attention to the ₦300 billion reportedly spent on an additional presidential jet, saying the money could have been used to address pressing public needs.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, argued that Nigeria is not inherently poor but is instead poorly governed, with resources misallocated at the expense of citizens’ wellbeing.
He pointed out that the cost of the presidential jet alone could have financed the construction of over 4,000 primary healthcare centres across the country, roughly 110 per state, had it been invested in frontline medical infrastructure.
Obi also criticised other spending decisions by the federal government, including tens of billions of naira used to refurbish the National Conference Centre in Abuja and rebuild the Vice-President’s residence. According to Obi, such expenditures highlight a disconnect between government priorities and the needs of ordinary Nigerians.
During his remarks, he referenced a conversation with a young nurse he met, who lamented the severe lack of ambulances and basic medical equipment in the healthcare system, a situation Obi attributed directly to the mismanagement of public funds.
Obi urged the government to refocus spending on essential services such as healthcare, education and social infrastructure to improve citizens’ lives rather than on extravagant assets that offer little public value.