By Mary Onyia
Presidential hopeful Peter Obi has accused the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of reckless financial management, alleging that it has accumulated more debt than it can repay in a lifetime. Speaking at the OBIDIENT Conference and official declaration for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Uyo, Obi claimed that most of the loans secured by the current government are structured to be repaid between 2045 and 2050. According to him, those who plunged the country into the mounting debt burden may not be around when repayment peaks.
“The current administration has collected more loans than every other administration, and most of these loans will be repaid from 2045 to 2050 when most of the people who plunged the country into this indebtedness are no more,” the former Anambra State governor said.
Obi stressed that the rising debt profile reflects profligacy and poor prioritisation, insisting that Nigeria’s resources must be channeled into productive sectors rather than borrowing to fund consumption. He pledged that, if elected in 2027, his administration would reverse the trend by investing heavily in education and healthcare, describing them as the bedrock of national development and prosperity.
He maintained that tackling poverty and insecurity requires deliberate investment in human capital, noting that countries that achieved sustainable growth did so through structured funding of schools, hospitals and job-creating sectors. Obi vowed to pursue policies that would lift millions out of poverty and curb criminality through opportunity-driven governance.
Reiterating his anti-corruption stance, the former Anambra governor said corruption would drastically decline when leaders and their families refrain from personal enrichment. He recalled that while in office, he distanced his family from government privileges and did not allocate state land to himself or relatives, challenging anyone with contrary evidence to present it to the appropriate authorities.
Meanwhile, Coordinator of the OBIDIENT Movement worldwide, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, urged supporters to intensify mobilisation ahead of 2027, positioning the ADC as the platform for change. Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the movement, Dr. Ben Smith, described the forthcoming election as a generational battle focused on jobs, security, dignity for workers and renewed hope for Nigerians.