'35 Million Hungry Nigerians Could Form a Country' — Obi's Spokesman Slams Presidency

Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

A spokesman for the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has launched a blistering attack on the Presidency, accusing it of dismissing the legitimate concerns of millions of Nigerians grappling with acute hunger, poverty, and insecurity. Idris Zekeri Jr., spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), issued the rebuke on Wednesday during an interview on ARISE NEWS, reacting to recent comments by Presidential Aide Bayo Onanuga, who had questioned the severity of the hunger crisis in the country. Zekeri described Onanuga's remarks as "most disgraceful," arguing that they failed to reflect the harsh realities facing citizens across the nation.

At the heart of Zekeri's criticism is the staggering statistic that approximately 35 million Nigerians are currently facing acute food insecurity. He emphasized that this figure is not a mere number but represents a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions, comparable to the population of an entire nation. "As we speak today, 35 million Nigerians are facing acute hunger," Zekeri stated. "As a matter of fact, you can form a country of the hungry, make President Tinubu the president, and it will be the same population as Ghana—an entire country of hungry people". This figure aligns with projections from the World Food Programme, which has warned that a record near-35 million Nigerians are facing food insecurity due to conflict, climate shocks, displacement, and the systemic collapse of local food systems.

Zekeri further highlighted the broader context of economic despair, alleging that the current administration has pushed approximately 140 million Nigerians into multidimensional poverty. He argued that the government's focus on statistical achievements, such as revenue growth and stock market gains, has failed to translate into tangible improvements in the living standards of ordinary citizens. "Poverty has deepened under Tinubu’s administration," Zekeri insisted, pointing to an unprecedented debt burden that has not been matched by any corresponding improvement in living conditions. These claims are supported by data from the World Bank, which confirmed that poverty rose to 63 per cent in 2025, trapping about 140 million people in hardship. Even the Federal Government's Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, recently acknowledged that it is "unacceptable for Nigeria to have over 140 million citizens living below the poverty line".

Zekeri's outburst is the latest salvo in an escalating war of words between the opposition and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the state of the economy. It comes just days after the POMR issued a statement defending Peter Obi's call for President Tinubu's resignation over what he described as "monumental failure in governance". In that statement, Zekeri accused the Presidency of failing to engage with the substance of Obi's concerns and instead resorting to "insults, distortions, and self-congratulatory rhetoric". The back-and-forth highlights the deep political divisions in the country as it grapples with its worst economic crisis in a generation.

Presidential spokespersons have previously defended the administration's record, pointing to economic growth figures and infrastructure projects. However, critics argue that these indicators have not alleviated the suffering of the masses. Zekeri's remarks serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of the crisis, urging the government to shift its focus from defending its record to addressing the urgent needs of the people. "For a spokesperson of the president to come on here and completely disregard these legitimate concerns of Nigerians is most disgraceful," he said, demanding that officials acknowledge the scale of the economic and security challenges confronting the nation. With 35 million people facing hunger and 140 million living in poverty, the debate over Nigeria's future is not just political—it is a matter of survival.

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