Tinubu must show leadership by cutting costs of governance – Obi

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja today, the former Anambra State governor emphasized the need for Tinubu to lead by example.

Obi urged the President to use local hospitals and visit educational institutions to assess the state of the country’s healthcare and education sectors.

He highlighted that corruption and the high cost of governance remain significant issues in Nigeria, contributing to a sharp rise in public debt under the current administration.

Obi stressed that loans should be tied to development projects rather than used for consumption.

Obi accused government officials of mismanaging public funds through frequent foreign trips in 2024 and suggested that the President occasionally travel by road to experience the poor condition of the nation’s infrastructure.

He recounted how, as Anambra governor, he took President Olusegun Obasanjo on a road trip from Awka to Onitsha, which led to the road’s reconstruction.

Addressing poverty, Obi lamented the widespread hardship, citing stampedes during palliative distributions and the failure of the new minimum wage to address hunger.

He also decried the worsening security situation, with Nigerians falling victim to banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings.

Obi urged Tinubu to recognize his role as the nation’s President and spend festive periods in various parts of the country to connect with the struggles of ordinary citizens.

On tax reforms, Obi insisted that taxation should be tied to production, arguing that with most Nigerians living in poverty, the government must prioritize economic productivity before imposing additional taxes.