Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over Nigeria’s persistent electricity failures, accusing the administration of falling short of a clear campaign promise and urging the President to prioritise governance over foreign travels and news.ng reports.
In a statement reflecting deep concern over the state of the nation’s power sector, Obi recalled Tinubu’s 2022 campaign pledge on electricity, stressing that recent events sharply contradict that commitment.
“President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promise in 2022 was clear: ‘If I do not provide steady electricity in my first four years, do not vote for me for a second term.’ Yet, in January 2026 alone, the national grid has already collapsed twice, and the month is not even over. Last year, it collapsed about twelve times,” Obi said on his X handle Wednesday.
He added that the recurring grid failures should alarm all Nigerians who desire national progress.
“This reality sharply contradicts the promise and should worry every patriotic Nigerian,” he stated.
Obi also took issue with President Tinubu’s continued overseas trips, contrasting Nigeria’s dire electricity situation with the energy capacity of other countries. Referencing the President’s latest visit to Turkey, he described the comparison as troubling.
“At the same time, the President is on another foreign trip, this time to Turkey, a country of about 87 million people—roughly a third of Nigeria’s population. Yet Turkey generates and distributes over 120,000 megawatts of electricity, while Nigeria struggles with less than 5% of that capacity. The contrast is both striking and painful,” Obi said.
According to the former governor, Nigeria’s challenges require hands-on leadership rather than frequent international engagements. He warned that the growing culture of governance from abroad sends the wrong message at a time when citizens are grappling with economic hardship, poor infrastructure, and an unreliable power supply.
“Our appeal is simple: stay at home and confront the nation’s problems. At this rate, we may soon hear of trips to Palau or Vanuatu while critical issues remain unattended at home,” he remarked.
Beyond electricity and travel concerns, Obi lamented what he described as Nigeria’s obsession with electoral politics at the expense of governance and accountability.
“And yet, our collective preoccupation seems to be the next election, rather than how to secure good governance,” he said.
The Nigerian politician called on Nigerians across political divides to demand better leadership and a stronger sense of responsibility from those in power.
“We should be joining hands to demand accountability and responsible leadership, and to save Nigerians from the indignity and suffering caused by persistent bad governance,” Obi concluded.
His remarks come amid renewed public frustration over power outages, rising living costs, and broader questions about the direction of governance in Africa’s most populous nation.
