The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as a failure, describing it as “renewed hopelessness.”
Obi also accused the President of failing to communicate directly with Nigerians amid worsening economic hardship, saying the administration’s policies have neither inspired confidence nor improved the lives of ordinary citizens.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Obi rejected suggestions that his vision of rebuilding Nigeria’s economy through increased production was similar to the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“No, no — that’s renewed hopelessness. It’s not working,” he said, insisting that Nigerians deserved “real hope” built on tangible progress rather than political slogans.
“The kind of hope I’ll bring is real hope — tangible hope that people will see and feel,” Obi added.
The former Anambra State governor further argued that the government had failed to engage citizens effectively, claiming that President Tinubu had withdrawn from direct communication with the public.
“It’s not even ‘audio hope’ because the man we voted for isn’t even talking to us anymore,” he said.
“The person we voted for is Bola Tinubu. He’s no longer talking to us; he’s gone into Aso Rock and turned it into a bunker.”
According to Obi, one of the primary responsibilities of an elected leader is to communicate personally with citizens, explain government policies and remain accountable to the people.
“A leader’s first duty is to speak directly to the people,” he said.
“I will speak to the people myself. I’ll tell them: I said I would do this; this is where things stand — that’s commitment.”
