Peter Obi has lamented the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s health sector and the management of savings from fuel subsidy removal.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Imo State, Obi said the appalling condition of public hospitals is driving citizens to seek healing elsewhere.

“People now prefer going to church instead of hospitals because they believe they can receive healing for cancer in church, rather than seek medical treatment. This is because many people have died in hospitals due to the poor state of our healthcare system,” he said.

On the economy, the former Anambra State governor criticised the Tinubu administration’s handling of subsidy proceeds.

“When Tinubu came into power, he removed fuel subsidy and said the money would be used for critical areas of development, but look at what is happening in our country,” he stated.

Obi further argued that things have deteriorated under the current government, citing insecurity and high-level corruption.

“Everything under President Tinubu is collapsing. We have become more terrorised, and Nigeria is now number four. Tinubu no longer has the energy to govern. The greatest problem of this country is people stealing public money, and that cannot happen under my watch. If given the opportunity, Kwankwaso and I will unite this country and declare a state of emergency on insecurity,” he said.

He recalled how he tackled a similar security challenge as governor, explaining that after six months of unsuccessful local efforts to address the Akpaka Forest crisis, he escalated the matter to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and secured approval for air and ground operations. He noted that the forest has since been transformed into a modern estate.