Nigeria needs continuity, not reset, APC slams Obi over criticism

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The All Progressives Congress has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his criticism of the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

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The party insisted that Nigeria needs policy continuity rather than a fresh economic direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, made the remarks while reacting to Obi’s interview on Channels Television, where the former Anambra State governor said President Bola Tinubu should step aside, stating that the country was headed in the wrong direction under Tinubu’s leadership.

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Obi had described the Tinubu administration’s agenda as one of “failure and renewed hopelessness,” and that Nigeria required a different leadership approach to address its economic and governance challenges.

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Responding, Arodiogbu, in a statement on Monday, said the Tinubu administration had laid a solid foundation for economic recovery and urged Nigerians to support the consolidation of ongoing reforms instead of abandoning them for what he described as “another political experiment.”

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According to him, key reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, exchange rate adjustments and fiscal restructuring, were introduced to reposition the economy for sustainable long-term growth.

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He argued that the policies, though difficult, had started yielding results and should be strengthened rather than reversed.

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He said, “The priority for Nigeria should be the consolidation of ongoing economic gains, not the laying of a new foundation.”

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He described the former Anambra governor’s call for a complete policy reset as counterproductive at a time the country was navigating challenging but necessary economic adjustments.

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The APC chieftain also faulted Obi for what he described as a pattern of highlighting national challenges without presenting practical alternatives that reflect prevailing economic realities.

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He maintained that Nigeria required leadership committed to policy consistency, continuity and the expansion of gains in revenue generation and infrastructure development, rather than political rhetoric.

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Arodiogbu urged Nigerians to evaluate political actors based on governance records, verifiable facts and their ability to sustain economic progress.

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He further argued that the South-East and other parts of the country would benefit more from the continued implementation of existing reforms than from discarding the economic foundation already laid.

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The APC vice chairman also called on political leaders to place national interest above partisan considerations, stressing that investor confidence, infrastructure development, job creation and economic stability depended on the continuity of well-designed policies rather than abrupt reversals.

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Expressing optimism about the government’s economic direction, he said more Nigerians would experience the benefits of the reforms as they matured through increased investment, improved productivity and expanded economic opportunities.

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Arodiogbu reaffirmed the APC’s position that Nigeria’s path to sustainable development lies in consolidating existing gains, refining policies where necessary and delivering tangible benefits to citizens.

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He urged Nigerians to continue supporting the Federal Government’s economic reform agenda ahead of the 2027 elections

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