The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has pushed back against President Bola Tinubu’s criticism of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over the continuing erosion crisis in Anambra State, saying Obi’s political agenda extends beyond environmental remediation to preventing what it called the depletion of Nigeria’s public wealth.
The party said Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, intend to confront alleged waste of public money, heavy borrowing and weak accountability under the present administration.
In a statement issued by Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, spokesperson for the NDC National Presidential Campaign Council, the party said the Obi-Kwankwaso campaign seeks to resolve the disconnect between the promised gains from ending fuel subsidies, higher government receipts and the ongoing shortfall in funding for major public-sector priorities.
The NDC asked how the expected proceeds from subsidy removal had been used, particularly as the Federal Government continues to raise debt despite expanding revenues and mounting debt-service costs.
It also raised concerns over what it termed insufficient spending on core services such as health and education.
The party argued that Nigerians should not be left to face deeper poverty, joblessness, insecurity and weaker spending power while the government takes on additional liabilities.
“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 said.
The NDC also contrasted the financial positions of Obi and Tinubu at the end of their respective periods as governors of Anambra and Lagos states.
It said Obi departed office in 2014 leaving investments valued at about $500 million, as well as domestic and foreign-currency balances that included $156 million in dollar bonds.
By contrast, it referred to Debt Management Office figures showing that Lagos State had external obligations of roughly $190.43 million by the end of 2007, when Tinubu transferred power to his successor.
The party additionally criticised Tinubu over the pension legislation enacted during his Lagos administration, which it said provided former governors and deputy governors with extensive lifelong entitlements.
Those benefits, the NDC said, covered homes in Lagos and Abuja, several vehicles, furniture and utility payments, entertainment expenses, free healthcare, building-maintenance support and domestic employees.
It described the retirement package as excessive and said a later administration was forced to amend parts of it.
The NDC contrasted that arrangement with Obi’s record in Anambra, claiming that his government did not create a pension programme for former governors or their deputies.
The party said the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket gives Nigeria a chance to replace what it characterised as Tinubu’s debt-led economic approach with disciplined resource management, stronger accountability and investment in productive activity.
“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 said.
The NDC warned that persistent borrowing and weak fiscal discipline could create severe risks for Nigeria, citing past and present economies that suffered decline after building unsustainable debt burdens.
Referring to the Ottoman Empire, Egypt in the 19th century, Argentina and Zambia, the party said those cases offered lessons on the consequences of high debt and poor financial governance.
“If not stopped, Nigeria is in serious trouble,” the statement said.
On the debate over erosion in Anambra State, the NDC defended Obi’s environmental record, particularly his actions against gully erosion while he was governor.
It said Obi helped bring the World Bank-backed Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, known as NEWMAP, to Anambra and supported its launch in the state.
The party also said his administration sought to ensure that new state roads were built with adequate drainage linked to secure discharge channels.
It pointed to flood-management works, including concrete drainage projects in Adazi Nnukwu, Amawbia and Umuoji, among the interventions undertaken during his tenure.
The NDC said Obi also repeatedly engaged the Federal Government to obtain ecological intervention funding, while stressing the need for transparent use of such resources.
The party said the Obi-Kwankwaso project is centred on curbing fiscal excesses, safeguarding public assets and expanding economic prospects 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.
