Peter Obi Accuses President Tinubu of Masking Economic Hardship with Misleading Statistics

Peter Obi, Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allegedly using misleading statistics to mask Nigeria’s deepening economic crisis.

In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Obi recalled that Tinubu, during the 2023 campaign trail, dismissed his data-driven approach to governance.

“In November 2022, while campaigning in Delta State, Tinubu mocked my use of statistics and even said he was ashamed to mention my name. He asked, ‘Na statistics we go chop?’ and insisted his priority was simply to put food on the table for Nigerians,” Obi wrote.

Nearly two years into the Tinubu administration, Obi argued that Nigerians are now grappling with severe hunger and economic uncertainty. “Today, Nigeria is ranked among the hungriest countries in the world, with millions unsure of where their next meal will come from,” he stated.

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Obi further accused the President of distorting official data to downplay the true scale of economic challenges facing the nation. “From unemployment numbers to inflation rates and now GDP rebasing, President Tinubu is feeding Nigerians with manipulated statistics, aimed at creating a false sense of progress while households continue to suffer,” he alleged.

Calling for a return to truth and accountability in leadership, Obi maintained that governance must be rooted in integrity, vision, and genuine compassion for the people. “Governance is not rocket science. It is not a gamble. It requires sincerity of purpose, character, competence, capacity, and compassion,” he concluded.