Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has claimed that many Nigerians who supported President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election and who previously ran successful businesses have now been forced into hardship under Tinubu’s administration.
According to Obi, some business owners have seen their enterprises collapse since Tinubu assumed office, leaving them struggling to survive and, in some cases, reduced to selling basic goods such as kuli-kuli.
Obi made these remarks in an interview with Chude Jideonwo published on Wednesday, responding to questions about whether enthusiasm for the movement that backed his 2023 presidential bid had waned. Obi asserted that his support base has not diminished but has actually grown, as more Nigerians assess the current administration’s performance firsthand.
He argued that many who supported Tinubu based on his political experience have since changed their minds after experiencing the realities of his governance. “Those who jumped in because of supposed experience have realized it was all a mess,” Obi remarked. He added, “Nobody can say things are moving well. What are they going to say now?”
Obi maintained that numerous thriving businesses have collapsed since Tinubu came to power, leaving former owners struggling to make ends meet. “Those who had businesses when he came into power have collapsed. They are now the people selling kuli-kuli,” he reiterated.
He emphasized that even those who once defended the current government are now judging its performance based on their own daily struggles. Dismissing claims that enthusiasm for his 2023 campaign has faded, Obi insisted that support has only increased as Nigerians see the consequences of their electoral choices. “My fellowship has increased because those who jumped in based on experience have seen the reality,” he said.
Obi also criticized the Federal Government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, claiming that instead of hope, the country has experienced greater hardship since Tinubu assumed office. “You’re talking about Renewed Hope. It became hopelessness when President Tinubu came into power,” Obi said, arguing that poverty, hunger, and insecurity have all worsened.
He cited statistics to support his claims, noting, “Eighty-seven million Nigerians were living in poverty. Today, it’s one-fourth,” and that Nigeria’s position on global hunger rankings has worsened. “We were number five before; now we are even higher on the hunger list,” he added. “Everything has gotten worse. We’re no longer talking about ghosts; you can see the impact everywhere.”
Obi listed insecurity and economic hardship as major concerns, contending that the government has failed to deliver on its promises. “Which hope are they going to renew again? You can’t renew failure, and that’s it,” Obi said.
Addressing questions about his relationship with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Obi defended his decision to align with him, describing Kwankwaso as a politician who genuinely cares for the poor. “Kwankwaso is one politician I can say anywhere cares about the interest of the poor. He believes in lifting people out of poverty and in giving opportunities to those with nothing, which aligns with my position,” Obi explained.
Obi emphasized that education and human capital development are the foundations of national growth, arguing that countries which have transformed their economies did so by investing in their people. “The biggest driver of development is education and human capital, not physical infrastructure,” he said, citing examples from China, Malaysia, and other Asian countries.
If elected president, Obi said he would prioritize tackling out-of-school children, improving healthcare, and building a productive economy where citizens gain the skills and opportunities needed to better their lives.
