Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to visit the remaining 33 states of the federation and account for the over $100 billion in loans his administration has obtained, as well as the N15.8 trillion reportedly saved from the removal of fuel subsidy.
In a statement on Saturday titled “Good Day, Mr President: Nigerians Deserve Accountability,” the former Anambra State governor said Nigerians were entitled to know how resources accruing to the Federal Government from increased revenue, taxation, borrowing and subsidy removal had been used since Tinubu took office.
Obi’s statement followed the president’s recent visit to Akwa Ibom State, where Tinubu reportedly spent a night outside Lagos and Abuja.
Congratulating the president on the trip, Obi said he hoped it would encourage him to visit other parts of the country and engage Nigerians on his administration’s performance.
“I congratulate you on spending a night in one of Nigeria’s states outside Lagos and Abuja. I hope you enjoyed the warmth, hospitality, and delicious cuisine of Akwa Ibom,” he said.
He, however, faulted the president’s foreign trips, alleging that Tinubu had spent over 260 days outside the country since assuming office.
“I sincerely hope this visit will inspire you to travel to the remaining 33 states of the federation, spend time with the people and, more importantly, explain what your administration has done with the ₦15.8 trillion saved from the removal of fuel subsidy, the over $100 billion you have borrowed,” Obi stated.
The NDC candidate also asked the president to account for increased government revenues from taxation and other sources, including additional income the administration reportedly celebrated last year for exceeding its target.
According to Obi, Nigerians deserve measurable evidence of improved living conditions, particularly in poverty reduction, education, healthcare, electricity supply and national security.
He asked the Federal Government to disclose the number of Nigerians lifted out of poverty under the administration and the number of out-of-school children returned to classrooms. He also demanded details on how many functional primary healthcare centres the government had built.
On electricity, Obi questioned how much power supply had improved, recalling Tinubu’s promise that Nigerians should not vote for him if he failed to fix the sector.
“They also deserve to know how much electricity supply has improved, especially given your promise that if you do not fix power, Nigerians should not vote for you,” he said.
On security, he called for an explanation of the administration’s efforts to protect citizens, noting that Nigeria remained among the most terrorised countries in the world.
Obi maintained that the government owed citizens an account of how public resources had been spent.
“Mr President, Nigerians deserve answers. They deserve to know what has been done with the resources entrusted to your government,” he said.
He added that accountability, transparency and measurable improvements in citizens’ welfare should form the foundation of national development.
“The New Nigeria we want to build will be based on accountability, transparency, and the physical, measurable impact of our public resources on the lives of citizens,” he said.
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