The Presidency has taken aim at former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, claiming he has finally aligned with some of President Bola Tinubu's key economic policies after previously criticizing them.

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Policy Communication, made the remarks on Monday following Obi's interview on Arise Television where the former Anambra State governor reportedly acknowledged the necessity of fuel subsidy removal.

During the interview, Obi stated that "there was nothing wrong with the removal of fuel subsidy by Tinubu." However, he qualified his statement by suggesting that the administration should have implemented certain preparatory measures before executing the policy.

Presidency's Response

Bwala, responding to Obi's comments, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the opposition figure, suggesting that Obi and his supporters are merely seeking political power without offering substantive alternative policies.

"Is anybody watching @PeterObi on Arise TV? He agreed with our policy of removal of subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange; he claimed he would have done it better than us in an 'organized manner'," Bwala wrote.

The presidential aide further claimed that when pressed about what constituted an "organized manner," Obi "played with words yet to arrive at agreeing with us."

"Anybody with rational mind knows these guys are just looking to grab power; but they don't have any alternative agenda," Bwala continued, adding that Obi demonstrated "very shallow knowledge of economics and governance."

Economic Policy Context

The fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification have been cornerstone economic policies of the Tinubu administration since taking office. These measures have generated significant debate among Nigerians due to their immediate impact on the cost of living, despite government assurances of long-term economic benefits.

Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election, has been a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration's economic management, making his apparent endorsement of these policies particularly noteworthy to the presidency.

The exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition figures as the country navigates economic challenges.

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