Soludo Disagrees with Peter Obi over Tinubu’s Economic Reforms; Says President is Doing Well

By Our Correspondent

Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has come to the defense of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the economic reforms embarked upon by the President have rescued the country’s economy from total collapse.

Soludo’s remarks contradict those of former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who recently faulted Tinubu’s administration, saying the country’s economy has worsened under the President’s watch.

Speaking at The Platform, a Democracy Day edition organised by The Covenant Nation in Lagos, Soludo said, “I’m not shy to say this: the audacious structural reforms embarked upon by the current administration of President Bola Tinubu have rescued the economy from the tipping point.”

He specifically cited the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows as necessary steps that allowed the economy to “breathe again.”

“If we didn’t do the kind of subsidy removal and deal with the exchange rate issues, we would have reached a point where the economy was just standing still.

“We couldn’t move any further. We needed fundamental rejigging for it to begin to breathe again — and thank God, at least, we are here,” Soludo said.

Soludo also praised the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) for endorsing Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying their assessment of Nigeria’s current reform path was largely right.

On the other hand, Peter Obi, in a statement to commemorate Democracy Day, lamented the worsening socio-economic conditions under Tinubu’s administration.

Obi said, “In just two years, we have moved from rigged elections to collapsing social services; from soaring poverty to rising corruption; from a seemingly stable economy to a parlous one.”

He cited specific economic data to support his claims, stating that Nigeria’s GDP has plummeted from $364 billion to $188 billion, nearly a 50% decline.

“GDP per capita has also dropped from $1,640 to $835, while the number of Nigerians living in multi-dimensional poverty has risen from 38.9% to 54%, Obi said.

Obi also highlighted the collapse of key development indicators, including education and healthcare.

“Nigeria now has over 18.3 million out-of-school children — the highest number globally. The quality of education is in sharp decline, with students writing national exams under candlelight and without proper learning infrastructure,” he said.

He further noted that the healthcare sector has fared no better, citing data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency that showed fewer than 20% of Nigeria’s 30,000 primary health centres are fully functional.

While Soludo urged the Tinubu administration to stay the course, Obi called on the President to end impunity and respect the rule of law and constitutional checks and balances.

“Now is the time to demand accountability, genuine leadership, and a government that prioritises the welfare, security, and democracy of its people over empty rhetoric and propaganda,” Obi maintained.