Obi Slams Tinubu Administration: ‘You’ve Gone From Padded Budgets To Forged Laws’

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election and former Governor of Anambra State, has launched a blistering critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of a dangerous shift from “padded budgets to forged laws.”

Obi’s strong condemnation, articulated in his X handle on Friday, centres on alleged discrepancies between legislation passed by the National Assembly and the versions ultimately published by the executive branch. He describes this situation as a “national shame” and evidence of “institutional decay.”

In his statement, Obi highlighted what he termed a “deeply troubling—and frankly unacceptable—issue”: documented discrepancies between what the legislature passed and what was enacted as law.

He dismissed such disparities as more than mere administrative oversights, asserting that they “strike at the core of constitutional governance.”

“We have transitioned from a Nigeria where budgets are padded to one where laws are forged—changes that impact taxpayers’ rights and, most importantly, access to justice,” Obi declared.

The former governor expressed particular alarm over the alleged introduction of new enforcement and coercive powers that he claims were never approved by the House of Representatives.

Among these, Obi cited an “outrageous requirement for a mandatory 20% deposit before appeals can be heard in court,” the ability to conduct “asset sales without judicial oversight,” and the granting of “arrest powers to tax authorities.”

Adding to his censure, Obi lamented the perceived silence from the Presidency on these serious allegations. “Perhaps most disturbing is the silence of the Presidency on a matter involving allegations of forgery, institutional sabotage, and abuse of process,” he stated, posing the pointed question: “Who made these alterations?”

Obi emphasised the public’s right to know, demanding transparency. “All of this must be made public. Nigerians need to understand what was signed, what was passed, and what was formally recorded. We cannot continue to ask citizens to pay more taxes while trust in governance collapses.”

The Labour Party leader concluded by calling for a fundamental shift in leadership, advocating for a government that upholds due process, embraces transparency and accountability, and respects the rule of law.

“No nation can thrive where laws are forged, and silence replaces leadership,” Obi asserted, before reiterating his campaign slogan: “A New Nigeria is Possible.”

The allegations raised by Peter Obi are significant and, if substantiated, could have profound implications for Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the rights of its citizens. The Presidency has yet to issue a formal response to Obi’s statement.