In a fiery response to recent criticisms from former Labour Party presidential hopeful Peter Obi, Nigeria’s Presidency has dismissed him as lacking depth in economic understanding and governance strategies. Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, issued a sharp statement on Monday evening through his official X (formerly Twitter) account, attacking Obi’s recent comments and perceived motivations.

Bwala’s comments came amid Obi’s appearances on national television where he voiced support for government policies, specifically the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates—measures originally implemented by President Tinubu’s administration. The presidential aide pointed out that Obi’s apparent endorsement was superficial, suggesting his true intention was to simply seize power without a clear alternative plan.

“Is anybody watching Peter Obi on Arise TV?” Bwala posed rhetorically. “He agreed with our policy of removal of subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange; he claimed he would have done it better than us in an ‘organized manner’.” He criticized Obi’s vague explanations of what that ‘organized manner’ entailed, claiming that Obi “played with words” to mask a lack of concrete proposals.

Bwala’s critique extended to Obi’s knowledge of economics and governance, accusing him of being “shallow” and insinuating that the opposition figures, including Obi, are merely motivated by a desire to take power rather than genuine policy alternatives. “Remember, this is even an interview anchored by a member of his Obidient movement,” he added, alluding to the close ties between Obi and his supporters. “That’s why you don’t hear ‘I put it to you’ and no barking like a rottweiler; Yet ‘if it didn’t Dey it didn’t Dey’.”

Meanwhile, Obi publicly challenged President Tinubu to account for the expected savings from the fuel subsidy removal, questioning transparency and the allocation of the recovered revenue. The former Anambra governor made this demand during his guest appearance on Arise Television, insisting that if he had been in charge, he would have executed the policy in an organized, incremental manner rather than the “haphazard” approach adopted by the current government.

“I have consistently maintained that I would have removed the fuel subsidy,” Obi stated. “If you go to my manifesto, it is there and the steps I would have taken in an organized manner. There is nothing wrong with the removal of the fuel subsidy. What is wrong is the haphazard way in which it was announced and implemented.”

He further questioned the whereabouts of the billions reportedly saved from the subsidy removal, asking, “Billions saved. Where is it? Where is it invested in critical areas of development?” Obi’s remarks underscore ongoing public debate over Nigeria’s economic policies, transparency, and the direction of the current administration.

As political voices clash over governance strategies, the administration remains firm in defending its policies, while Obi’s comments continue to stir discourse about the nation’s economic direction amid a tense political climate.