Peter Obi, former Anambra governor and Labour Party chieftain, on Wednesday, said the U.S. Mission in Nigeria amplified criticisms against President Bola Tinubu and governors, adding that Nigeria is suffering from leadership failure.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Obi cited U.S. Mission’s post on social media amplifying critical reports on how Mr Tinubu and governors budgeted huge funds to build palatial residence for themselves while Nigerians are told to suffer economic hardship as sacrifice for a better country.

“I have consistently maintained that leadership failure lies at the heart of Nigeria’s problems. Until we confront it head-on, the country cannot move in the right direction.

“The cumulative effect of poor leadership remains our greatest obstacle to development. This calls for urgent disruption of the current retrogressive system and the enthronement of leaders with competence, character, capacity, and compassion,” Mr Obi said.

He added, “Our declining governance has drawn global attention, as shown in the recent statement by the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, echoed in The Africa Report  (x.com/usinnigeria/st…) – a clear confirmation of what many of us have long said.”

The former Anambra fovernor doubled down on his criticisms of Mr Tinubu’s government, saying “Once again, let me be clear: you cannot ask the people to keep fasting while you feast every day. As Chinua Achebe rightly said, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.””

Mr Obi dared the Tinubu-led government to send media thugs after the U.S. government for amplifying criticisms against the government like it does against him and other opposition voices.

“I speak out to help build a new Nigeria, free of criminality and corruption. But instead of addressing the message, those who have hijacked our country deploy media thugs to insult and distract. Now that the American government has made similar observations, perhaps they too will become targets,” Mr Obi said.

On Tuesday, the U.S. government decried financial irresponsibility by Nigerian leaders, fuelling “inequality and eroding public trust.”

Mr Tinubu’s government has not responded to the criticisms as at the time of filing this report.