Obi challenges Tinubu to account for N15.8tn subsidy savings, $100bn loans

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to account for the N15.8 trillion reportedly saved from fuel subsidy removal and over $100 billion borrowed by his administration.

Mr Obi also demanded explanations on the impact of increased government revenues on poverty, education, healthcare, electricity supply and security.

The former Anambra State governor made the demands in a statement issued on Saturday titled, “Good Day, Mr President: Nigerians Deserve Accountability”.

He criticised Mr Tinubu over his frequent foreign trips, urging him to use his visits to Nigerian states to explain how his administration had deployed the country’s public resources.

Mr Obi congratulated the President on spending a night in Akwa Ibom State outside Lagos and Abuja, but questioned the benefits of his foreign travels.

“Good day, Mr President. I congratulate you on spending a night in one of Nigeria’s states outside Lagos and Abuja.

“I hope you enjoyed the warmth, hospitality, and delicious cuisine of Akwa Ibom, which I am sure is even better than those of the destinations where you have spent over 260 days outside Nigeria since coming into office,” he said.

He urged the President to extend his visits to the remaining 33 states of the federation and engage directly with Nigerians on the performance of his administration.

“I sincerely hope this visit will inspire you to travel to the remaining 33 states of the federation, spend time with the people and, more importantly, explain what your administration has done with the N15.8 trillion saved from the removal of fuel subsidy, the over $100 billion you have borrowed, the increased revenues accruing to the government from taxing Nigerians, and the additional government revenues which your administration celebrated last year as having surpassed its target,” he said.

The NDC candidate challenged the government to provide measurable figures showing the number of Nigerians lifted out of poverty since Mr Tinubu assumed office.

He also demanded statistics on the number of out-of-school children returned to classrooms and functional primary healthcare centres constructed by the administration.

“Nigerians deserve to know how many were pulled out of poverty within this period, how many out-of-school children were returned to school, and how many functional primary healthcare centres you have built,” he said.

Mr Obi further questioned the administration’s performance in the power sector, recalling Mr Tinubu’s promise that Nigerians should not vote for him if he failed to fix electricity supply.

“They also deserve to know how much electricity supply has improved, especially given your promise that if you do not fix power, Nigerians should not vote for you,” he added.

On security, the former governor faulted the administration’s handling of the country’s security challenges, arguing that Nigeria remained among the countries most affected by terrorism despite repeated assurances from the government.

“Mr President, Nigerians deserve answers. They deserve to know what has been done with the resources entrusted to your government,” he said.

Mr Obi said accountability, transparency and the measurable impact of public spending would form the foundation of the new Nigeria he envisaged.

“The New Nigeria we want to build will be based on accountability, transparency, and the physical, measurable impact of our public resources on the lives of citizens,” he added.