President Bola Tinubu has criticised former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, questioning his leadership capacity and ability to manage Nigeria’s challenges ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu made the remarks during a reception organised in his honour in Akwa Ibom State, where he was campaigning for the 2027 election. Taking aim at Obi’s record as Anambra governor, the President accused him of failing to address the state’s erosion challenges, contrasting his performance with his own record on infrastructure in Lagos.
Tinubu claimed that while Obi could not tackle erosion in Anambra, he had successfully addressed the threat posed by the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos. The President also criticised Obi’s movement between political parties, recalling his former association with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before joining another political platform.
He questioned whether Obi’s political decisions reflected the qualities expected of a national leader. Tinubu also praised Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno for what he described as his efforts to address erosion and improve the lives of residents.
Defending his administration’s economic policies, the President said the removal of the fuel subsidy was necessary to prevent further deterioration of the country’s economy. He claimed that before he assumed office, 27 of Nigeria’s 36 states were struggling to meet salary obligations, alongside pension and gratuity payments.
Tinubu maintained that the decision was intended to free resources for addressing poverty and other national challenges, insisting that the country would not return to fuel subsidy payments.
Meanwhile, Governor Umo Eno pledged that Akwa Ibom State would deliver two million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 election, while urging the Federal Government to fulfil its commitment to the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport.
