Peter Obi Criticizes Tinubu’s Government, Alleges Unprecedented National Grid Collapses and Misplaced Priorities

National grid collapses have reached an all-time high under the current administration, according to former presidential candidate Peter Obi, who has leveled a strong critique against President Tinubu’s government’s management of the power sector. Obi’s statement, shared on his social media platform, revisits a key campaign promise made by the President, contrasting it with the present reality.

Obi recalled the President’s December 2022 pledge: “If I Don’t Give You Constant Electricity in The Next 4 Years, Don’t Vote For Me For Second Term.” The former Labour Party candidate highlighted the significance of this promise to a country that has more citizens living without electricity thananywhere else in the world. He then argued that despite this assurance, the current government has presided over more frequent national blackouts and grid failures than any of its predecessors, all while billions have been poured into the sector.

The statement pointed out a stark contrast between Nigeria’s progress and that of other developing nations. Obi noted that while countries like Vietnam, Egypt, Indonesia and Bangladesh have successfully doubled their electricity generation, Nigeria’s output has barely moved from 4,500MW to 5,000MW, despite significant financial investment. He stressed that a robust power supply is a critical engine for economic growth, suggesting that generating even 10,000MW could boost Nigeria’s GDP by as much as 50%, unlocking industrial expansion and creating millions of jobsObi concluded his remarks by criticizing the government’s perceived misplacement of priorities. He argued that focusing on capital-intensive projects like coastal roads, which contribute far less to economic growth, has led to a collapse of factories, loss of jobs, and widespread business failures, leaving ordinary Nigerians in darkness. He urged the President to shift focus to generating and distributing electricity to empower small and medium-sized enterprises and foster sustainable economic development.