By Taiwo Scholarstica
Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has claimed that many business owners are suffering under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The NDC Presidential candidate made the allegations during an interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo on Wednesday.
Speaking, Obi alleged that several business owners who were operating successfully before Tinubu assumed office have lost their businesses and are now struggling to survive.
He also noted that his support base has continued to grow as more Nigerians evaluate the performance of the current administration.
He argued that many people who voted for Tinubu based on his political experience and past achievements have since changed their views after witnessing the country’s economic realities.
“Those who jumped into, in quotes, some experiential thing, ‘Oh, this man did this, this man did this’, I was going to create the future. I’ve seen that the whole thing was a mess,” Obi said.
He maintained that it would be difficult for anyone to convince Nigerians that the country was moving in the right direction given the prevailing hardship.
“Nobody, nobody can tell you things are moving well. What are they going to do now?” he asked.
Obi further claimed that many businesses that existed before the current administration have shut down, forcing their owners into difficult economic conditions.
“Those who had business when he came into power have collapsed. They are now the people who are selling kuli-kuli?” Obi said.
He added that even some of those who previously defended the government were now assessing its performance based on their personal experiences.
Obi also dismissed suggestions that enthusiasm for his 2023 presidential campaign had declined, insisting that public support for him had increased.
“My fellowship has increased because those who jumped into, in quotes, some experiential thing… I was going to create the future,” he said.
The former governor criticised the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agenda, arguing that the country’s condition had worsened since President Tinubu assumed office.
“You’re talking of the Renewed Hope. It had become hopelessness when President Tinubu came into power,” Obi said.
He claimed that poverty, hunger and insecurity had increased under the current administration.
“Eighty-seven million Nigerians were living in poverty. Today, it’s one-fourth,” he said.
Obi also alleged that Nigeria’s position on global hunger rankings had deteriorated.
“We were number five below where we are today in hunger list. We’ve increased,” he said.
According to him, the country’s challenges have become evident in the daily lives of Nigerians.
“Everything has gotten worse. Like I said before, we’re no longer talking of ghosts walking around. You can see where we’ve gotten,” he said.
The former governor identified insecurity and economic hardship as major issues confronting the country, arguing that the government had failed to fulfil its promises.
“Which hope are they going to renew again? You can’t renew failure, and that’s it,” Obi said.
Speaking on his relationship with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Obi dismissed concerns over the latter’s political structure and described him as a leader committed to improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“Kwankwaso is one politician that I can say it anywhere who cares for the interest of the poor.
“He believes in pulling people out of poverty. He believes in training a child of nobody to become something, and that for me aligns with my position,” Obi added.