Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has accused the government of being complicit in Nigeria’s worsening economic, social and security challenges.
Gatekeepers News reports that Obi made the allegation on Wednesday during a visit to the palace of James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv, ahead of his participation in the NDC town hall meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The former Anambra State governor described the country’s situation as dire, citing widespread hunger, poverty, terrorism, kidnapping and rising public debt.
He told the traditional ruler that his engagements across the country were aimed at promoting peaceful campaigns and encouraging greater participation in the 2027 general election.
Obi expressed concern that more than 60 per cent of Nigerians were living in poverty, while the number of out-of-school children continued to rise.
“Nigeria today is in a very, very difficult, dire situation where Nigerians go to bed hungry. Over 60 percent of our population now live in poverty,” the NDC presidential candidate said.
“Today we are 200 trillion in debt. It cannot continue. Our out-of-school children are increasing. We have become one of the most terrorised and insecure places; we are now number four in the entire world.
“People are dying in Benue today, a state that can feed Nigeria, a state that used to be peaceful. The government is complicit in all that is happening. There is kidnapping.”
The former governor also questioned the capacity of security agencies to track down kidnappers and rescue abducted schoolchildren.
He expressed concern over reports that kidnappers used mobile phones to negotiate ransom payments from their hideouts, questioning why security agencies had been unable to use such communications to locate them.
Obi’s remarks come amid growing concerns over insecurity, poverty and the cost of living, issues expected to feature prominently in political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election.
