Peter Obi criticizes Tinubu’s fuel price Comparison with Kenya, says Nigerians face deeper hardship

Africa, Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria, 13 April 2026 (NPA) — Mr. Peter Obi, a leader of Nigeria’s opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) and a frontline presidential aspirant, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent comparison of Nigeria’s fuel prices with Kenya, suggesting Nigeria is doing better than the East African nation and others. Obi described the remark as dismissive, likening it to the biblical Pharisee who boasted of superiority to mask deeper shortcomings.

In a statement issued today, Obi argued that the comparison was baseless, noting that Kenya outperforms Nigeria across several economic and social indicators. He referenced Tinubu’s comment in Yenagoa suggesting Nigerians should take solace in being “better off than Kenya and other African countries,” warning that such rhetoric risks trivializing the severity of Nigeria’s economic crisis. Obi emphasized that credible comparisons must be grounded in verifiable data, not used as a refuge from accountability.

Obi highlighted Kenya’s stronger performance in key development metrics: security, the Human Development Index, GDP per capita, literacy levels, electricity access, and life expectancy. For example, Kenya’s HDI ranking is 143 with a coefficient of 0.630, compared to Nigeria’s 164 with 0.530. Kenya’s GDP per capita stands at about $2,200, while Nigeria’s is below $850. Poverty affects 43% of Kenyans compared to 63% of Nigerians, and Kenya’s literacy rate is above 80%, compared to Nigeria’s 62–65%. He also noted that Kenya’s inflation has remained around 4.5% in recent years, while Nigeria’s has consistently exceeded 15%.

Obi concluded that if Kenyans are considered to be suffering despite stronger figures, Nigerians are in a far more difficult situation. He urged President Tinubu to refrain from self-consolation and instead embrace humility, accountability, and a determined effort to address the structural challenges slowing Nigeria’s development.