The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023, general election, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the Federal Government for its alleged failure to disclose the extent of bankruptcy or deficit inherited by the President Bola Tinubu administration in 2023.
This follows National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s earlier claim that the current administration inherited a bankrupt nation from its predecessor.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 16, 2023, and shared on his official social media account, Peter Obi challenged the Federal Government’s transparency and accountability, urging them to disclose the precise deficit inherited from the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The former Anambra State Governor emphasized that responsible governance demands openness and strict accountability.
Obi criticized the Buhari government for its lack of disclosure regarding the inherited deficit in 2015, when similar claims were made against the preceding Goodluck Jonathan-led government. He stressed the importance of transparency and urged the government to reveal the exact extent of the inherited deficit.
Highlighting the need to reduce the cost of governance, Peter Obi called for the redirection of public funds towards critical development sectors such as education, security, and healthcare. Expressing concern about the nation’s financial state, he called for tangible and verifiable steps to improve the economic situation.
Obi questioned the rationale behind certain expenditure items in the recently signed supplementary budget, emphasizing the need to focus resources on crucial development areas given the nation’s financial constraints.
It’s noteworthy that on Monday, November 13, 2023, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu expressed regret that the current administration inherited a financially strained country from the previous administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Despite the financial challenges affecting budget allocations, Ribadu assured that the government would do everything in its power to ensure robust and viable defense management and apparatus in the country.
