Nigeria’s inflation rate stood at 33.2 as of April, and Nigerians continue to pay through their noses for food. Many have called on President Bola Tinubu to rejig his economic policies.

Opposition have always snatched the hardship to hit the president on occasions—like holidays, celebrations, and others.

“The hardship in the country, the biting effects of bad government policies and poor governance have dampened the hopes of most Nigerians,” Peter Obi said last Christmas. He has repeated it time and again.

No particular Tinubu’s policy irritates Obi  as such. Although the LP presidential wannabe has complained about policy inconsistency in import duty jacking up the inflation rate. Tinubu’s 2024 budget also seems too big on consumption.

What could Obi have done differently—if he had won the 2023 presidential election?

Not a lot, considering their manifestos.

Obi’s manifesto and what the Tinubu government is tinkering with now align in so many ways. And the two politicians can even end up saying nothing on specific issues, like anti-corruption.

Obi’s Economic Agenda

— Obi promised to make budgeting more accountable. Tinubu has set up a body for that, too.

— Obi promised to reduce the cost of governance, including adopting the Oronsaye report. Tinubu has stopped MDAs from overseas trips, and he has ordered the implementation of the panel report.

— CBN reform, including safeguarding the Way and Means resort from executive abuse. The Apex bank under Tinubu has lightened the burden it carried, and vowed never to hand its vault to the presidency like the bank’s past leadership did.

— Obi forex policy says his administration will only support measures which ‘ensure a level playing field and are in line with global best practices’. Nothing could be closer to floating the naira that has unleashed inflation in Tinubu’s administration.

— Revenue generation in Obi’s manifesto leans on tax reform. Likewise Tinubu’s. The only difference is Obi promised to make the federal government rely on tax revenues states generate.

— Obi promised to focus on digital economy, stimulate the production sector with incentives. President Tinubu has a young techpreneur as minister of digital economy. The government has also launched three entrepreneurial incentives through the Bank of Industry. The funds add up to N200 billion.

— Obi also promised as a major manifesto thrust the exploration of agriculture to shift the economy from consumption to production. Tinubu launched his administration’s agricultural extension policy early on in his tenure.

Anti-corruption Agenda

— The article 3 of Obi’s manifesto mentions “to aggressively fight corruption”.

But Obi didn’ state how this will happen—differently from what has been.  And Tinubu has simply watched the EFCC and the ICPC frisk whoever they choose.