Shettima: Peter Obi Has Nothing to Offer Nigerians Beyond Statistics

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, saying he has little to offer Nigerians beyond quoting statistics.

Shettima made the remarks on Monday at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, where he defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and called on members of the country’s business and economic community to support the administration’s reforms.

The Vice-President, however, commended Obi for his position against restoring the petrol subsidy, while questioning the substance of his economic proposals.

“I respect Peter Obi for having the courage to say he’s not going to restore the petrol subsidy, but beyond spouting some statistics, Mr Peter Obi has absolutely nothing to offer,” Shettima said.

He urged members of the economic community to support the Federal Government’s policies, arguing that the administration was taking difficult but necessary decisions to address the country’s economic challenges.

Shettima also defended the removal of the petrol subsidy, comparing fuel prices in Nigeria with those in neighbouring countries.

According to him, Nigeria consumed about 67 million litres of petrol daily under the previous arrangement, a system he argued had benefited other African countries.

He cited petrol prices of approximately N1,148.36 per litre in Niger Republic, N1,729.29 in Benin Republic and N1,945.50 in Cameroon, compared with N1,390 in Nigeria.

“The comparison is wide. Nigeria was Christmas for other African countries,” he said.

The Federal Government removed the petrol subsidy in May 2023, shortly after Tinubu assumed office. The decision led to higher petrol prices and increased transportation and living costs, prompting criticism from opposition politicians and calls for measures to ease the burden on Nigerians.

Obi, a former Anambra State governor, has repeatedly criticised the government’s economic management, using public spending figures and economic data to question its policies.

Shettima’s remarks come amid growing political exchanges ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties intensifying their criticism of one another’s policies and presidential contenders.