You Can’t Ask Citizens to Fast While You Feast— Obi Slams Tinubu’s Govt Over Rising Poverty

Former presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over what he described as a worsening poverty crisis in Nigeria.

Obi made the remarks in a statement shared on his official page, citing findings from a policy report released by Agora Policy.

According to him, the report shows a sharp increase in the country’s poverty rate in recent years.

“The poverty rate in our country has risen from about 40 per cent before the current reforms to over 63 per cent today,” Obi stated.

With Nigeria’s population estimated at over 220 million, he noted that the figures suggest more than 140 million citizens may now be living below the poverty line.

“For a country of over 220 million people, this means that well above 140 million Nigerians are living in poverty,” he added.

The former governor of Anambra State further observed that many households are struggling to meet basic needs, including food, transportation, rent, and healthcare.

Obi also criticised what he described as a disconnect between the economic hardship faced by citizens and government spending.

“You cannot ask the citizens to fast while you feast. Sacrifice must begin from the top,” he said.

He stressed that economic reforms should prioritise citizens’ welfare and provide protection for vulnerable groups.