Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has taken issue with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent claim that Nigerians are better off than citizens of Kenya and other African nations, arguing that such comparisons fail to tackle the country’s deepening economic crisis.
Responding to Tinubu’s remarks in Yenagoa, Obi said comparing Nigeria with other countries risks downplaying the hardship many citizens are currently facing, including rising inflation, high fuel costs, and worsening living conditions.
He stressed that what Nigerians need are clear, practical solutions supported by reliable data, not statements aimed at providing comfort.
Obi also challenged the basis of the President’s assertion, noting that any such comparison must be backed by verifiable statistics and honest evaluation of the country’s situation.
Drawing from religious teachings, he warned against self-congratulatory comparisons, likening the approach to the biblical parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, and referencing Qur’anic guidance against self-praise.
The former governor of Anambra State further criticised Tinubu’s past dismissal of statistics during his campaign, emphasising that data remains critical for effective governance, planning, and tracking national progress.
According to Obi, while comparisons can be useful when properly applied, they must be objective and grounded in facts rather than selectively used.
He cited several indicators to support his argument, stating that Kenya outperforms Nigeria in areas such as human development, GDP per capita, literacy rates, and life expectancy. He also pointed to lower poverty levels and better macroeconomic stability in Kenya.
Obi added that Nigeria faces greater challenges in education and infrastructure, including a significantly higher number of out-of-school children and limited access to electricity.
He also highlighted differences in inflation and currency performance, noting that Kenya’s economy has remained relatively stable compared to Nigeria’s, where inflation remains elevated and the naira has weakened considerably.
While acknowledging that Kenya has its own economic difficulties, Obi maintained that available data shows it consistently performs better than Nigeria on key development indicators.
He concluded that if Kenya is still considered to be struggling despite these advantages, then Nigeria’s situation is even more critical.
Obi urged the Federal Government to move beyond what he described as “self-consolation” and instead embrace accountability and evidence-based policymaking to address the nation’s challenges.
