Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has said Nigeria has retrogressed and is in a deplorable state under President Bola Tinubu’s watch.

“Considering how our nation sadly retrogressed, and became in the last few months, putting us in a far more deplorable situation, economically and otherwise, than we already were, I must say that we all need to rise and join in rescuing our nation from further collapse,” Mr Obi said.

Mr Obi made the assertion in a series of tweets on Tuesday, lamenting insecure and economic hardships in the country

He said, “It is difficult to sleep at night, knowing that millions of Nigerian households do not know where their next meal will come from, or knowing that some Nigerians may be under terror attack due to the high level of insecurity in the country.” 

The former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians “to unite, above tribe, religion, and political party affiliation to rescue the country from the shackles of leadership failure and bad governance.”

“This generation of Nigerians has a sacred duty to make Nigeria a nation Nigerians can be proud of,” he added.

Mr Obi’s criticism comes as Nigerians lament economic hardship as inflation worsens foodstuff prices.  

Mr Tinubu assumed office last year May, announcing immediate fuel subsidy removal and later ending dual exchange rate. 

The dual policies have seen petrol prices jump from N145 to N630, shooting food prices up as the naira continues its freefall against the dollar, trading above N1,600 against a dollar.

Mr Tinubu’s dual policies have been lauded by experts. The International Monetary Fund in a summary of its assessment of Nigeria’s economy hailed Mr Tinubu’s administration’s reforms.