Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for failing to deliver on his campaign promise to resolve Nigeria’s electricity crisis within four years. Obi reminded Tinubu of his pledge that Nigerians should not vote for him for a second term if he fails to provide constant electricity.
Speaking in response to the recent national grid collapse, Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, urged the president to prioritize electricity generation and distribution to boost businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, which he said would drive job creation and economic growth.
In a statement, Obi referenced Tinubu’s 2022 campaign promise: “If I don’t give you constant electricity in the next four years, don’t vote for me for a second term.” He noted that, despite this commitment, Nigeria has experienced more grid failures and power outages under the current administration than ever before, even with billions invested in the power sector.
Obi highlighted that Nigeria, with a GDP of about $200 billion, lags behind countries like Vietnam, Egypt, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, which have significantly increased their electricity output and transformed their economies. While these nations have added tens of thousands of megawatts, Nigeria’s power generation has only marginally increased from 4,500MW to 5,000MW.
He emphasized that generating at least 10,000MW could boost Nigeria’s GDP by 50%, fostering industrial growth and creating millions of jobs. Obi criticized the government’s focus on projects like coastal roads, which he argued contribute less to economic growth, while factories shut down, jobs vanish, and Nigerians endure persistent blackouts.
