The Presidency has responded sharply to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, describing Obi as lacking depth in matters of governance and economics.

 

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, made the remarks in a statement shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday. Bwala expressed surprise that Obi, during an interview on Arise Television, acknowledged support for the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of Nigeria’s foreign exchange rates — two controversial policies of the current administration.

 

“Is anybody watching Peter Obi on Arise TV?” Bwala wrote. “He agreed with our policy of subsidy removal and exchange rate unification but claimed he would have done it in a more ‘organised manner.’ When asked to explain what that meant, he deflected without providing clear answers.”

 

Bwala accused Obi and other opposition figures of being more interested in gaining power than presenting viable alternatives, stating: “Anybody with a rational mind knows these guys are just looking to grab power, but they don’t have any alternative agenda. He [Obi] seems to have a very shallow knowledge of economics and governance.”

 

Referring to the Arise TV host, Bwala noted, “Even though the interview was conducted by someone from his Obidient movement, there was no aggressive questioning or challenges — just soft handling.”

 

During the same interview, Obi questioned Tinubu’s administration on how the funds saved from the removal of fuel subsidy had been used. He argued that while he supports subsidy removal and the floating of the naira, the execution under the current government was disorganized.

 

“I have consistently maintained that I would remove fuel subsidy,” Obi stated. “It’s in my manifesto, along with the structured steps I would have taken. What is wrong is the haphazard way it was announced and implemented.”

 

Obi further challenged the Federal Government to provide transparency: “We were told the subsidy removal was to stop borrowing and invest in infrastructure. Billions have been saved—so where are those funds, and what critical sectors have they been invested in?”

 

The exchange highlights deepening tensions between the Presidency and key opposition figures over Nigeria’s economic direction.