Former presidential spokesman, Reno Omokri, has accused Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of misleading the public over Nigeria’s debt profile, a move he claims is discouraging foreign investment in the country.

 

Omokri made the statement during an appearance on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, aired Wednesday.

 

According to him, Obi’s assertions regarding President Bola Tinubu’s borrowing record are false and damaging to Nigeria’s international image.

 

“The reason why I came here is because I’m a patriot. Peter Obi lied,” Omokri said. “Foreign direct investors are watching your programme and making investment decisions not to come to Nigeria. Some who are already in Nigeria are now considering leaving the country because of the lie he told.”

 

He specifically refuted Obi’s claim that President Tinubu has borrowed more than previous administrations led by the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari combined.

 

“That is a blatant lie,” Omokri said, presenting documents he said were sourced from the Debt Management Office (DMO). “As of 2015, Nigeria owed $63 billion. When Buhari left office, it had risen to $113 billion. Today, under Tinubu, the debt has gone down to $97 billion — meaning this administration has reduced Nigeria’s debt by over $14 billion.”

 

He accused Obi of converting dollar-denominated debts to naira to falsely inflate the debt figures and mislead the public.

 

Omokri’s comments are the latest in a series of exchanges between supporters of the current administration and opposition figures, as debates over Nigeria’s economic direction and credibility continue.