“Peter Obi Did Not Provide Any Policy Document to Support Consumption-to-Production Mantra” – Doyin Okupe

Doyin Okupe, a former director-general of the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential campaign, has stated that Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, did not present a policy document to support his widely-touted “consumption-to-production” mantra during the campaign. Okupe made the remarks on Tuesday while evaluating President Bola Tinubu’s performance in office.

Okupe asserted that Tinubu’s policy framework, encapsulated in the “Renewed Hope” agenda, is superior to the plans of his 2023 election rivals, including Obi and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He argued that Atiku’s campaign proposals relied on theoretical loan arrangements that were untenable, given the dire financial condition left by the previous administration under Muhammadu Buhari.

While acknowledging Atiku’s political acumen and detailed campaign manifesto, Okupe claimed it was impractical when assessed against Nigeria’s economic realities at the time. “The premise Atiku placed his testament on was sinking, and it can’t work,” Okupe said.

Turning to Obi, Okupe criticized the Labour Party’s campaign for lacking a substantive policy framework. “In the Labour Party, we didn’t have a document that we could adopt as a policy document for what was going on,” he remarked. He described Obi’s mantra as “good rhetoric” but lacking grounding in policy development or principles of application.

Okupe contrasted this with Tinubu’s approach, highlighting measures the president has taken since assuming office. He pointed to Tinubu’s efforts to stabilize the economy by paying off debts, addressing foreign exchange issues, and curbing abuses linked to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Additionally, Okupe praised the administration’s tax reform initiatives, which began just two months into Tinubu’s tenure.

Despite his earlier opposition to Tinubu during the elections, Okupe expressed admiration for the president’s systematic and focused reform agenda, noting its potential to elevate Nigeria. “Though I never supported Tinubu ahead of the election; he is not my friend, and we were not in the same party. In retrospect, however, his reform agenda is the most credible,” Okupe said.

He concluded by emphasizing the impact of the “Renewed Hope” agenda, which he believes is effectively addressing the country’s pressing challenges.