Vice President Kashim Shettima has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, claiming he has nothing to offer Nigerians beyond statistics.
The vice president urged members of the country’s economic community to support the Federal Government’s policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidies.
Shettima made the remarks at an event in Abuja on Monday, where he acknowledged Obi’s position on maintaining the removal of petrol subsidies but questioned the substance of his broader economic proposals ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Vice President also defended the government’s position on petrol pricing by comparing the cost of fuel in Nigeria with prices in neighbouring African countries. He argued that the figures illustrated the consequences of Nigeria’s previous fuel pricing arrangements and urged economic stakeholders to support the government’s policies.
“I respect Peter Obi for having the courage to say he is not going to restore the petrol subsidy, but beyond spouting some statistics, Mr Peter Obi has absolutely nothing to offer,” Shettima said.
He added that Obi relied on statistics to advance his arguments, calling on members of the economic community to support the Federal Government instead.
“He was surviving on various statistics. So, I call on you, the crème de la crème of the Nigerian economic community, to support us,” the vice president said.
The vice president also cited fuel prices in Niger Republic, Benin Republic and Cameroon to support his argument that petrol pricing in Nigeria should be considered alongside developments in neighbouring countries.
“What is the price of fuel in our neighbouring communities? A few years ago, Nigeria was consuming around 67 million litres of fuel per day,” he said.
Shettima put the price of petrol at 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.
He argued that the differences in prices highlighted the implications of the country’s former fuel pricing arrangements, which he said had benefited other African countries.
“The comparison is wide. Nigeria was Christmas for other African countries,” Shettima said.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election, has continued to feature in conversations about the country’s political future.Vice President Kashim Shettima has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, claiming he has nothing to offer Nigerians beyond statistics.
The vice president urged members of the country’s economic community to support the Federal Government’s policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidies.
Shettima made the remarks at an event in Abuja on Monday, where he acknowledged Obi’s position on maintaining the removal of petrol subsidies but questioned the substance of his broader economic proposals ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Vice President also defended the government’s position on petrol pricing by comparing the cost of fuel in Nigeria with prices in neighbouring African countries. He argued that the figures illustrated the consequences of Nigeria’s previous fuel pricing arrangements and urged economic stakeholders to support the government’s policies.
“I respect Peter Obi for having the courage to say he is not going to restore the petrol subsidy, but beyond spouting some statistics, Mr Peter Obi has absolutely nothing to offer,” Shettima said.
He added that Obi relied on statistics to advance his arguments, calling on members of the economic community to support the Federal Government instead.
“He was surviving on various statistics. So, I call on you, the crème de la crème of the Nigerian economic community, to support us,” the vice president said.
The vice president also cited fuel prices in Niger Republic, Benin Republic and Cameroon to support his argument that petrol pricing in Nigeria should be considered alongside developments in neighbouring countries.
“What is the price of fuel in our neighbouring communities? A few years ago, Nigeria was consuming around 67 million litres of fuel per day,” he said.
Shettima put the price of petrol at 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.
He argued that the differences in prices highlighted the implications of the country’s former fuel pricing arrangements, which he said had benefited other African countries.
“The comparison is wide. Nigeria was Christmas for other African countries,” Shettima said.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election, has continued to feature in conversations about the country’s political future.
