The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended President Bola Tinubu’s revenue generation strategy, responding to criticism from former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who questioned the relevance of revenue targets amid rising poverty.
The party described Obi’s remark as economically misleading, arguing that revenue targets are essential for funding public services and tackling the very poverty issues he raised.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, the Lagos APC accused Obi of promoting “dangerous populism” and lacking a coherent economic strategy.
It argued that governance requires sustainable revenue to deliver critical services such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation.
Citing Lagos as a model of effective revenue use, the party said the state has achieved significant progress through disciplined revenue generation and fiscal management.
It contrasted this with Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra, accusing him of prioritizing savings over investments in infrastructure and human capital.
The statement reads in part, “The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is compelled to respond to yet another reckless and economically incoherent statement by Mr. Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State and failed presidential candidate of the Labour Party, who recently declared that “revenue targets are meaningless amid rising poverty.
“Every serious government- local, state, or federal- sets revenue targets because without revenue, you simply cannot fund education, healthcare, infrastructure, or the very poverty alleviation Obi pretends to champion.
“The Lagos APC finds it deeply ironic that this statement comes from a man who, as governor, prided himself on “saving money,” yet failed to invest significantly in long-term infrastructure or the people. What exactly does Obi think drives social investment if not sustainable, well-managed revenue generation?
“Lagos State, under the leadership of the APC, is the clearest proof that targeted revenue generation can deliver tangible benefits to the people.
“Mr. Obi should stop trying to stay relevant by making wild, headline-grabbing remarks that collapse under the weight of scrutiny. Governance is not activism, and policy is not performance art.
“Peter Obi has made a habit of weaponizing poverty for political gain, without offering any coherent pathway out of it. To dismiss revenue targets in a time of fiscal constraint is not just bad economics- it is dangerous populism. We expect more from someone who still fantasizes about leading a complex economy like Nigeria.
