{
  "id": 17306109,
  "title": "Debt worse than leprosy, Obasanjo replies Tinubu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/debt-worse-than-leprosy-obasanjo-replies-tinubu",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T23:46:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/debt-worse-than-leprosy-obasanjo-replies-tinubu/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s stance on borrowing, stating that Nigeria’s mounting debt is \"worse than leprosy.\" Speaking on Friday at the Ajibosin Platform in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo argued that while leprosy affects a single person, debt destroys entire generations.\n\nThe remarks serve as a rebuttal to comments made by President Tinubu in April, during which he stated that borrowing is not leprosy and that his administration would continue to borrow whenever necessary to facilitate repayment through hard work. According to Daily Post Nigeria, Tinubu made those comments during a meeting with Plateau leaders at the State House.\n\nDuring the forum, Obasanjo also questioned the devaluation of the naira, noting that the exchange rate was N1 to $1.85 when he began farming 47 years ago, compared to the current rate of N1,500 to a dollar.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Debt is worse than leprosy - Obasanjo tackles Tinubu over borrowing comment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/debt-is-worse-than-leprosy-obasanjo-tackles-tinubu-over-borrowing",
        "published": "2026-10-30T18:36:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}