Catholic Bishops’ Visit: Obi Faults Tinubu’s Comments On Hunger

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has slammed  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent remarks on hunger in the country, describing them as insensitive amid worsening economic hardship faced by millions of Nigerians.

Obi, in a statement issued on Friday, expressed concern over Tinubu’s comments to Catholic bishops that hunger had always existed in Nigeria, even before he was born.

While acknowledging that hunger has long been a challenge in the country, Obi argued that the President’s remarks did not adequately reflect the gravity of the current economic realities confronting Nigerians.

“I watched with deep concern the statement made by President Bola Tinubu to the Catholic Bishops who visited his office, that there has always been hunger in Nigeria, even before he was born.

“While it is true that hunger has been a part of human life and has existed in our country for decades, such a statement appears insensitive to the plight of the millions of Nigerians who face worsening economic hardship today. More importantly, we must focus on the facts and the measurable outcomes of governance,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor contended that food insecurity has deteriorated significantly since the Tinubu administration assumed office in 2023.

According to him, the number of Nigerians facing acute food insecurity has increased from about 17 million before the current administration took office to approximately 35 million.

“Instead of improving the situation, the crisis has worsened significantly under the current administration,” Obi stated.

He also claimed that poverty had deepened during the period, alleging that the number of Nigerians living in extreme poverty had risen from an estimated 87 million in 2023 to nearly 140 million.

Obi acknowledged that the Tinubu administration inherited serious economic and security challenges but maintained that governments should ultimately be judged by the outcomes of their policies.

“No one disputes that this administration inherited serious challenges. However, leadership is measured not by the challenges inherited but by the results achieved.

“The government must honestly acknowledge that its response has fallen far short of what the situation demanded, with millions more Nigerians pushed deeper into poverty and hunger,” he said.

The NDC presidential candidate attributed the worsening socio-economic conditions to persistent insecurity, poor economic management, fiscal indiscipline, wasteful public spending and inadequate investment in productive sectors.

He called on the federal government to prioritise investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, security and support for small businesses, while pursuing policies that would create jobs, increase production and reduce poverty.

“A responsible government must prioritise investment in education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and small businesses while pursuing policies that create jobs, expand production, and lift people out of poverty. That remains my commitment to the Nigerian people,” Obi added.

LEADERSHIP reports that the members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria paid a courtesy visit on Wednaesday to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, led by the President of the conference and Archbishop of Kaduna, Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, during which they highlighted key national concerns, including insecurity, the state of tertiary education and limited admission spaces, the need to sustain Nigeria’s democratic gains, the conduct of credible elections, and rising poverty.

The bishops also urged President Tinubu to consider the return of mission schools to their original owners and ensure equal treatment of all religious groups by providing places of worship across the country without discrimination. They further called on the President to guarantee free, fair and credible elections in the 2027 general polls.