Peter Obi Accuses President Tinubu of Manipulating Economic Data to Mask Nigeria’s Worsening Crisis

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate has publicly accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of presenting misleading economic data to obscure the deteriorating economic situation in Nigeria.

In a post on his official social media platform on Monday Obi claimed that the President is “overfeeding” Nigerians with false statistics concerning unemployment rates, inflation figures and GDP rebasing all designed to paint an overly positive image of the country’s economic realities.

Obi recalled that during the 2023 presidential campaign Tinubu had mocked his reliance on statistics stating “Na statistics we go chop? All I want is to put food on the table of Nigerians.

However two years into Tinubu’s administration, Obi pointed out that Nigeria is now ranked among the hungriest nations globally with millions of citizens unsure of their next meal.

Obi criticized the administration’s approach, accusing it of manipulating key economic indicators to hide increasing hardship faced by Nigerian households. He emphasized that effective governance requires “sincerity of purpose, character, competence, capacity and compassion,” and described this data manipulation as a dangerous form of deception against the Nigerian people.

The former Anambra State governor stressed that governance is not a gamble or rocket science but demands truth and responsibility.

Obi’s statements come amidst ongoing debates about Nigeria’s economic performance and the government’s ability to address poverty and unemployment.

While observers note that some business leaders like Aliko Dangote have praised Tinubu’s reform policies for restoring investor confidence, Obi’s remarks highlight a sharp political divide on the narrative about Nigeria’s economic health.

The presidency is yet to issue an official response to Obi’s latest accusations. Meanwhile, the controversy underscores the heightened scrutiny of economic data and governance transparency in Nigeria’s current political climate.