Peter Obi, the presidential flagbearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged President Bola Tinubu to vacate office after the 2027 elections, promising to prioritise poverty reduction, eliminate corruption and ensure government resources benefit citizens if elected.
The former Anambra State governor spoke on Monday at the inauguration of the NDC Presidential Campaign Council in Kaduna State, where he faulted the current administration’s handling of the economy and demanded explanations regarding the benefits Nigerians had received from government loans.
Obi assured Nigerians that he would neither embezzle public funds nor tolerate financial misconduct among officials serving under his government.
He promised to establish accountability mechanisms that would ensure public resources were properly managed and directed towards projects that improve the welfare of citizens.
Speaking before party members and supporters, the former governor maintained that his campaign would concentrate on addressing national challenges rather than engaging in accusations against previous or serving political leaders.
According to him, Nigerians require leaders capable of delivering practical solutions to their problems instead of spending time assigning blame for the country’s difficulties.
Obi declared that his administration would prevent the diversion of government revenue and ensure public money was spent strictly for the benefit of the population.
He also pledged to confront corruption directly, insisting that neither he nor anyone appointed to serve in his government would be permitted to misuse resources belonging to Nigerians.
The NDC presidential candidate subsequently called on Tinubu to return home after completing his tenure, stressing that the country needed a different approach to governance.
Obi argued that the next administration should concentrate on improving living conditions, particularly for citizens struggling with poverty, increasing expenses and declining purchasing power.
He also raised questions about the loans obtained by the Federal Government, demanding to know the tangible benefits such borrowing had delivered to the country.
The opposition politician further challenged Tinubu to explain the achievements recorded through government expenditure under the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets.
According to Obi, Nigerians deserve a comprehensive account of how borrowed funds and budgetary allocations have been utilised, rather than continued exchanges between the ruling party and opposition figures.
He also criticised the president’s remarks concerning poverty in Nigeria, alleging that the number of people experiencing economic hardship had increased significantly during the present administration.
Obi claimed that a recent report identified Tinubu as the Nigerian president under whose leadership the highest number of people had fallen into poverty.
He maintained that the government should provide explanations for its economic performance instead of attributing the country’s difficulties to political opponents.
The NDC candidate also referred to Tinubu’s recent campaign activities, arguing that the president should have used the occasion to present an account of his administration’s accomplishments and explain how borrowed resources had been spent.
Rather than blaming others, Obi insisted that the president should demonstrate what his government had achieved through its annual budgets and borrowing activities.
The opposition leader’s remarks come as economic management, public accountability and living standards remain central issues in discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Food affordability, employment opportunities, rising household expenses, national debt and access to essential services are among the concerns facing Nigerians.
However, Obi’s claims regarding poverty reflect his interpretation of the report he referenced. Establishing the extent of poverty under the current administration would require examining the report’s data, methodology and reporting period, alongside other relevant economic indicators.
