Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu against implementing four national budgets simultaneously. Obi described such a move as a “recipe for chaos and frivolity.”
Speaking to journalists in Onitsha, Obi also urged the President to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who remains in detention despite being granted bail by the court. “Government must obey the law as the rule of law is an intrinsic asset that we must cherish and live with,” Obi stated.
Obi emphasized the importance of dialogue with agitators and the need for the government to adhere to legal rulings. “We are a democratic nation, and we should not be doing things that are arbitrary and not within the law,” he added.
On the issue of national security, Obi called for increased efforts to protect lives and property. “The primary duty of any government is the security of life and property. It is the foundation on which people live in a nation,” he said, expressing concern over the daily reports of killings, abductions, and kidnappings in Nigeria.
Obi urged South-East governors to collaborate more closely and work with security agencies and vigilante groups to address security challenges. “They can even invite those of us who had been there to interact with them to chart the way forward,” he suggested.
In a series of tweets, Obi criticized the plan to implement four national budgets concurrently, calling it a disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. “This intentionally reckless action will lead to frivolous items in the approved budgets competing with essential projects for limited resources,” he warned.
Obi accused the lawmakers and executives of being out of touch with reality and lacking competence in managing the nation’s finances. He demanded an immediate reversal of the situation in favor of a more responsible and transparent approach to budgeting.
“This is a call to action for all leaders to desist from actions that will further drive the country into economic chaos,” he tweeted. “We seek and insist on a nation governed by leaders who are frugal and responsible in their handling of public resources. This is the only way we can build a great nation.”
