In a blistering statement that has sparked widespread political ripples, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of deliberately misleading Nigerians with falsified economic data — from unemployment and inflation figures to what he now describes as a suspicious “GDP debasing scheme.”
Speaking via a public post on his official Instagram page, Peter Obi did not mince words. He alleged that the Tinubu-led administration has consistently churned out inaccurate economic statistics, effectively “overfeeding Nigerians with wrong numbers” to create a false sense of progress in a country battling real-time economic hardship.
Obi pointed fingers at what he termed the government’s propaganda machinery, accusing it of weaponizing faulty figures to mask the suffering of ordinary Nigerians. “First, they gave us wrong unemployment data, then manipulated inflation figures. Now, it’s GDP debasing. This is not governance — this is deceit,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State Governor’s comments come in the wake of recent economic reports released by federal agencies — data which the presidency and pro-government economists have used to claim significant improvements under Tinubu’s economic reforms.
But critics, including Obi, are calling foul. According to them, while government figures may suggest stability, the reality on the streets — skyrocketing prices, dwindling purchasing power, and joblessness — tells a different story entirely.
Obi’s remarks have found resonance among frustrated Nigerians on social media, many of whom have echoed his sentiments with hashtags like #StopTheLies and #RealityOverPropaganda now trending on X (formerly Twitter).
While the presidency has yet to officially respond to Obi’s scathing criticism, his allegations underscore a deepening distrust in the Tinubu administration’s economic narrative. With public outrage mounting and inflation showing no signs of genuine relief, Nigerians — and the world — are watching closely. The question remains: are these numbers designed to reflect progress, or to conceal failure? Updates to follow as reactions unfold.
