The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of worsening the plight of Nigerians through what he described as “anti-people policies and poor governance.”
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Obi said that government policies implemented over the past two years had deepened economic hardship instead of improving citizens’ welfare.
Quoting a recent World Bank report released on 8 October 2025, Obi noted that 139 million Nigerians are now living in poverty, a sharp rise from the 87 million recorded in 2023 when President Bola Tinubu assumed office.
“What this means is that in two years under the watch of the APC regime, over 50 million Nigerians were sent into poverty. This is a heartbreaking reflection of how deeply our nation is failing its citizens,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor expressed concern that the damning report did not spark any national dialogue or urgent policy response from the government.
“What is even more concerning is that this devastating revelation has not led to an emergency and national discussion on how to effectively pull millions of our people out of poverty. Instead, the government issued a rebuttal—even when the reality is visible in the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians,” Obi added.
He also cited the World Bank’s observation that despite several “celebrated reforms,” the number of poor Nigerians continues to increase, further entrenching the country’s position as the world’s poverty capital.
“The reasons these reforms are not working are due to the lack of a clear plan and the absence of commitment to channel the supposed gains into productive areas that will benefit the people and stimulate real growth,” Obi said.
Calling for a shift in government approach, the Labour Party flag bearer urged the Tinubu administration to adopt people-centered economic policies focused on production and human development.
“Reforms must be deliberate and backed by people-focused policies that prioritise production over consumption, support small businesses and farmers, invest in education and healthcare, and ensure that government spending directly improves the lives of Nigerians,” Obi stated.
He concluded with a warning that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful progress while most of its citizens remain poor.
“No nation can truly rise when the majority of its people are trapped in poverty. With the right leadership, we can make Nigeria work for every Nigerian,” he said.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
