Cut Cost of Governance, Lead by Example – Peter Obi Tells Tinubu

Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to lead by example by cutting the cost of governance and addressing the nation’s pressing challenges.

Obi made this call during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, where he spoke on the state of the nation.

He advised the President to prioritize local healthcare by seeking medical treatment within the country and visiting educational institutions to assess the state of development in the sectors.

“The level of corruption in the country remains alarmingly high, as does the cost of governance, which has led to an astronomical increase in public debt under the Tinubu administration,” Obi said.

He criticized the continued borrowing practices, stating that loans are not tied to developmental projects but are instead used for consumption.

He also decried the frequent foreign trips by government officials in 2024, which he described as a mismanagement of public funds.

Obi suggested that Tinubu travel by road occasionally to experience firsthand the poor state of public infrastructure.

Recalling his tenure as Anambra governor, Obi noted that he once took former President Olusegun Obasanjo on a road trip from Awka to Onitsha, prompting the award of a contract for the road’s reconstruction.

Addressing the poverty crisis, Obi condemned the stampedes during palliative distributions in parts of the country, emphasizing that the new minimum wage has failed to alleviate hunger.

He also lamented the worsening security situation, stating, “Nigerians die needlessly due to banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping.”

Obi further advised Tinubu to stop governing with a Lagos State mindset and urged him to spend festive seasons in other parts of the country to understand the plight of Nigerians.

“The President must lead from the front and show Nigerians that he is committed to solving the nation’s challenges,” Obi concluded.