Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed concern over Nigeria’s current trajectory, stating that the nation is becoming increasingly fragile and divided under President Bola Tinubu.
He cautioned that the situation could worsen significantly if the present administration secures reelection in 2027.
Speaking at the African Democratic Congress convention held in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr Obi emphasised the urgency of national unity, warning against further fragmentation.
“The country is collapsing, and if you allow it to go further, it would be worse,” Mr Obi said. “We need to work as a united Nigeria for the sake of Nigeria. The country is so divided, so we need unity. The present government has ensured that we remain more divided. Our unity is important.”
He also criticised the economic direction of the All Progressives Congress-led government, pointing to rising poverty levels and increased borrowing. According to him, key indicators suggest a sharp deterioration since the current administration took office.
He added, “If you check your indices, when the present government came into being, our poverty rate was 41.6% and 8 million people. Today, we are 63% and 140 million people. So they have almost doubled that.
“When this government came into being, we removed the petroleum subsidy to stop borrowing for services and use the money to develop the country. Today, we are about 200 trillion in debt. Worse still, this government owes contractors; no projects of 2025 have been funded. We have a huge debt and have borrowed more.”
The former governor if Anambra State reiterated his concerns about the country’s direction, warning of potential instability if urgent measures are not taken. He called on citizens to make sacrifices to avert a looming crisis.t
“We are heading to disaster. I used these figures to show you we are drifting. We allr have to work hard because anarchy consumes everybody. We must now sacrifice for the sake of our children. If we don’t do anything, what is happening will take revenge on our children and us,” Mr Obi stated.
Efforts to obtain a response from the presidency regarding these claims were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, projections by PricewaterhouseCoopers in its Nigeria Economic Outlook released in January indicate a worsening poverty outlook. The report estimates thatt approximately 141 million Nigerians could be living in extreme poverty by 2026, with the poverty rate expected to rise to 62 per cent. It further noted that the rate increased from 59 per cent in 2024 to 61 per cent, representing about 139 million people, in 2025.
