The Nigeria Democratic Congress has responded firmly to President Bola Tinubu’s remarks regarding ecological management in Anambra State, declaring that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is entering the presidency to stop the erosion of Nigeria’s commonwealth.
The rejoinder follows comments made during a ruling party rally in Akwa Ibom State, where the president criticized Obi’s past gubernatorial record on managing gully erosion corridors. In a formal statement issued on Saturday, the campaign council stated that the broader danger facing the country is the ongoing depletion of public wealth through uncontrolled borrowing and declining living standards.
Questioning Fuel Subsidy Gains and Rising National Debt
Campaign spokesperson Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu highlighted the sharp contradiction between reported fiscal savings and citizens' economic realities. While authorities announced the complete removal of petrol subsidies to expand government revenue, the administration has continued to secure new bilateral and commercial loans on a weekly basis.
The opposition platform noted that despite higher statutory allocations, critical social services including public healthcare and primary education remain severely underfunded. The campaign emphasized that escalating debt servicing obligations, coupled with persistent inflation and high unemployment, have severely weakened household purchasing power across the country.
Historical precedents from across the world illustrate that borrowing-dependent economic models lacking accountability inevitably compromise sovereign stability. The campaign pointed out that sustained fiscal recklessness threatens the foundation of the national economy unless current budgetary priorities undergo immediate structural reform.
Comparing Gubernatorial Fiscal Records
To contrast their respective leadership approaches, the campaign examined the financial standing of both candidates at the completion of their tenures as state executives. Records indicate that when Obi completed his administration in Anambra State in 2014, he left approximately 500 million dollars in managed investments, cash balances, and foreign currency sovereign bonds.
Conversely, official figures from the Debt Management Office show that Lagos State held an external debt profile of roughly 190.43 million dollars when Tinubu concluded his governorship in 2007. The opposition statement argued that subsequent legislation granting extensive lifetime pensions and executive perks to former governors further strained state finances, whereas Anambra State refrained from enacting similar executive pension packages.
The council maintained that the joint ticket of Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, presents a clear departure from debt-driven governance. Their joint platform promises strict fiscal discipline, resource conservation, and capital deployment directed entirely toward productive economic infrastructure.
Defending Anambra Environmental Interventions
Addressing the environmental claims directly, the campaign dismissed accusations that the former governor neglected environmental challenges. The council pointed out that the administration actively partnered with the World Bank to launch the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project across several vulnerable communities.
State engineering guidelines during the period mandated comprehensive stormwater channels for new road projects to divert runoff safely into natural drainage basins. Significant flood control structures and retention networks were deployed across multiple vulnerable towns, alongside active collaboration with federal ecological funds to arrest active landslides.
The campaign concluded that voters are looking beyond partisan rhetoric toward tangible fiscal prudence. The opposition ticket stated that its primary objective remains safeguarding the national treasury, restoring transparency to public spending, and rebuilding shared economic opportunities for all citizens.
