Ogona Anita
Peter Obi has raised serious concerns about Nigeria’s system of governance following the presentation of the 2026 Budget by President Bola Tinubu. In his reaction via X, he warned that the country is facing a deeper problem than budget padding, one that threatens the foundation of democracy and the rule of law.
According to Obi, Nigeria has moved from a period where budgets were inflated by lawmakers to a more dangerous stage where laws themselves appear to be altered after being passed by the National Assembly. He explained that there are clear differences between what legislators approved and what was eventually published and presented as law by the executive arm of government. This, he stressed, is not a small mistake but a serious constitutional issue.
He further pointed out that some new powers included in the final law were never debated or approved by the House of Representatives. These include forcing citizens to pay a large percentage of disputed taxes before they can appeal in court, allowing assets to be sold without proper court approval, and giving tax authorities powers to arrest people. Obi believes such measures can easily be abused and may deny citizens fair access to justice.
What worries him most is the silence from the Presidency despite allegations of forgery and manipulation of laws. Obi questioned who made these changes and why Nigerians have not been given clear explanations.
He argued that citizens cannot be expected to accept higher taxes when trust in government is collapsing.
In his words, “We have transitioned from a Nigeria where budgets are padded to one where laws are forged, changes that impact taxpayers’ rights and, most importantly, access to justice.”
