Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has highlighted reservations about how the Tinubu-led federal government is handling the country’s power sector.
Obi wrote on his X account yesterday that the National Grid is still not working well under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even though he promised stable energy throughout his campaign.
Obi, citing a statement attributed to Tinubu in which the President begged not to be voted for if he failed to provide continuous energy in four years, accused him of abandoning the national grid 32 months after taking office, according to Daily Trust.
He wrote, “Thirty-two months after taking charge, instead of living up to his powerful words, he now dumps National Grid, which has been doing very poorly under his watch.”
He said that the promise of stable power had given Nigerians optimism, but he was sad that people were still having trouble with broken promises.
“Those were the strong words that gave Nigerians hope. They wanted light in their homes, stability for their enterprises, and growth for their country. But Nigerians are still dealing with that broken, obvious electoral promise, and there hasn’t been any clear information about what the problems are, if there are any.
The former governor of Anambra State also spoke out against the FG’s plan to transition to solar power, calling it “gross neglect” and “deeply worrisome.” He said it might make the power issue even worse for regular Nigerians.
In the 2025 budget, we read about ₦10 billion for solar power at Aso Rock, and in the 2026 budget, we read about another huge amount for upgrades and maintenance. Now, we are being told in a sarcastic way that the Presidential Villa plans to be disconnected from the national grid and rely only on solar power.
“When the seat of power leaves the national grid, it is a serious disregard and very worrying. It would be reasonable to expect government agencies to take the lead in efforts to enhance and expand the grid so that other businesses and, in the end, citizens can profit. If those in charge don’t link to the system, who will connect the average Nigerian to reliable power?
He said that while boosting renewable energy was a good thing, the government’s actions indicated that they didn’t care about or care about regular people.
It is good and vital for the future to promote sustainable energy, as solar systems do. But this circumstance shows a bigger problem: a government that doesn’t care about the people it governs. You can’t urge people to fast while you eat, and you can’t keep yourself safe when Nigerians are still in danger.
“Nigerians don’t expect promises to be kept 100% of the time, but they do expect 100% effort, along with clear explanations of any gaps and measurable improvements.” “Leadership must serve the people and not cut itself off from their daily problems.”
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