The Presidency has taken a swipe at former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, calling him desperate for power and ill-equipped for governance following his recent critique of the federal government’s economic reforms.
In a fiery statement released on Monday, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, described Obi as a “shallow” political figure lacking in substance and understanding of economic realities.
Reacting to Obi’s comments during a televised interview on Arise TV, Bwala expressed disbelief at Obi’s apparent endorsement of some key Tinubu policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of Nigeria’s foreign exchange rates—policies Obi previously criticized.
“He agreed with our policy on subsidy removal and forex unification,” Bwala wrote via his verified X handle.
“Then he claimed he would have done it better—in an ‘organised manner.’ When asked to explain what that meant, he played with words and gave no clear plan.”
Bwala didn’t stop there. He accused Obi and other opposition figures of masking their ambition with populist rhetoric, without offering any realistic solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
“Anybody with a rational mind knows these guys are just looking to grab power. They don’t have any alternative agenda.”
In a jab at the Arise TV interviewers, Bwala added:
“Even the interview was anchored by a known Obidient. That’s why there was no ‘I put it to you,’ and no barking like a Rottweiler. Yet, as always, ‘if e no dey, e no dey.’”
During the interview, Obi acknowledged that removing fuel subsidy and floating the naira were economically sound moves—both of which were part of his 2023 manifesto. However, he strongly criticised the manner of implementation under Tinubu’s administration.
“There is nothing wrong with removing the fuel subsidy,” Obi said.
“It’s in my manifesto. But I would have done it gradually and in a more organised way.”
He went on to challenge the government’s claim that the funds saved from subsidy removal were being invested in critical infrastructure:
“Billions were saved. Where is it? Where has it been invested? Nigerians deserve to know.”
The war of words between Peter Obi and the Tinubu-led government is more than just political sparring—it’s a contest over who has the vision and competence to fix Nigeria’s struggling economy. Whether Nigerians see Obi as a genuine alternative or just another power-seeker remains to be seen.
