The Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, has responded to President Bola Tinubu’s criticism of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over the persistent erosion menace in Anambra State.
NDC insisted that Obi’s political mission goes beyond addressing environmental challenges to tackling what it described as the erosion of Nigeria’s commonwealth.
The party said Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are committed to ending the mismanagement of public resources, excessive borrowing and poor accountability under the current administration.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the NDC National Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the party said the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket seeks to address the contradiction between the expected benefits of fuel subsidy removal, increased government revenue and the continued underfunding of critical sectors.
The NDC questioned what had happened to the financial gains expected from subsidy removal, particularly amid the Federal Government’s increasing borrowing, rising revenue generation and growing debt-servicing obligations.
It also expressed concern over what it described as inadequate funding of essential public services, including healthcare and education.
According to the party, Nigerians should not continue to endure worsening poverty, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power while the government accumulates more debts.
“Obi/Kwankwaso will not allow Nigeria to continue borrowing at an alarming rate, without corresponding benefits, while citizens endure worsening poverty, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power,” the statement read.
The NDC also compared the financial records of Obi and Tinubu during their respective tenures as governors of Anambra and Lagos States.
It claimed that Obi left office in 2014 with investments equivalent to $500 million, alongside local and foreign currency holdings, including $156 million in dollar-denominated bonds.
In comparison, the party cited Debt Management Office, DMO, figures indicating that Lagos State’s external debt stood at approximately $190.43 million at the end of 2007, when Tinubu handed over power to his successor.
The party further criticised Tinubu over the pension law introduced during his administration in Lagos, which reportedly granted former governors and their deputies several lifetime benefits.
These benefits, according to the NDC, included houses in Lagos and Abuja, multiple vehicles, furniture and utility allowances, entertainment allowances, free medical care, house maintenance allowances and domestic staff provisions.
The statement described the pension package as excessive, claiming that a subsequent administration was compelled to review some of its provisions.
It contrasted this with Obi’s administration in Anambra, alleging that the former governor did not establish a pension scheme for former governors and their deputies.
The NDC maintained that the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket represents an opportunity for Nigeria to move away from what it described as Tinubu’s borrowing-dependent economic model towards prudent financial management, accountability and productive investments.
“The Obi/Kwankwaso ticket offers Nigeria the golden opportunity to make fundamental departure from President Tinubu’s borrowing-dependent and erosion of public funds model of governance towards Obi/Kwankwaso prudent management of public resources, accountability, productive investment and measurable improvements in citizens’ welfare,” it stated.
The party also warned that excessive borrowing and poor fiscal management could have serious consequences for Nigeria, drawing comparisons with historical and contemporary economies that experienced economic decline following unsustainable debt accumulation.
Citing the Ottoman Empire, 19th-century Egypt, Argentina and Zambia, the NDC argued that history provides lessons on the dangers of excessive borrowing and weak financial management.
“If not stopped, Nigeria is in serious trouble,” the statement warned.
Addressing the criticism surrounding erosion in Anambra State, the party defended Obi’s record on environmental management, particularly his efforts to tackle gully erosion during his tenure as governor.
It said Obi helped attract and launch the World Bank-supported Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, in Anambra State.
The party also highlighted his administration’s efforts to ensure that newly constructed state roads incorporated proper drainage systems connected to safe discharge points.
It further cited flood-control projects, including concrete drainage systems in Adazi Nnukwu, Amawbia and Umuoji, as part of the former governor’s interventions.
According to the NDC, Obi also regularly engaged the Federal Government to secure ecological intervention funds while emphasising accountability in their utilisation.
The party concluded that the Obi-Kwankwaso political project is focused on addressing fiscal recklessness, protecting public resources and creating economic opportunities for Nigerians.
“The bottom line is that Obi-Kwankwaso mission is about stopping fiscal recklessness and the erosion/decimation of Nigeria’s commonwealth, while providing economic opportunities for Nigerians today and for future generations,” the statement added.
2027: NDC tackles Tinubu's over Anambra erosion comment against Peter Obi