Presidential Aide O’tega Ogra Criticizes Peter Obi’s Praise for Argentina’s Economic Reforms

Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital Communications, Engagement and Strategy, O’tega Ogra, has sharply criticized Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent endorsement of Argentina’s economic reform measures.

On August 11, Obi had attributed Nigeria’s hunger and poverty crisis to poor leadership lacking capacity and compassion. The former Anambra State governor described the harsh economic conditions facing millions of Nigerians as a daily struggle for survival, not just statistics.

Obi further compared Nigeria’s poverty and inflation rates with Argentina’s, praising Argentina’s economic reforms—which included removing petrol and electricity subsidies, currency devaluation, and significant public sector cuts—as a blueprint Nigeria should emulate. He highlighted Argentina’s notable drop in inflation and poverty within two years of the reforms.

However, in response on Tuesday, Ogra challenged Obi’s comparison, pointing out that it overlooks important economic realities and shows inconsistency in Obi’s stance.

“Before Argentina’s President Javier Milei started his reforms, inflation was already around 114.2%, and it surged to approximately 289% just four months into his policies, with prices more than tripling within a year,” Ogra said.