Vice-President Kashim Shettima has challenged former Anambra State governor Peter Obi’s economic credentials, claiming the former presidential candidate has little to offer Nigerians beyond quoting statistics.
Shettima made the remarks at an event in Abuja on Monday, where he appealed to members of Nigeria’s economic community to support the Federal Government’s policies, particularly its decision to remove the petrol subsidy.
“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.
“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.
To defend the government’s position on fuel pricing, Shettima compared petrol prices in Nigeria with those in neighbouring countries. He also recalled that Nigeria consumed about 67 million litres of petrol daily a few years ago.
“Now, in Niger Republic, a litre of fuel goes for approximately N1,148.36, in Benin Republic it goes for N1,729.29, and in Cameroon it goes for N1,945.50; in our country, it goes for N1,390.
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“The comparison is wide. Nigeria was Christmas for other African countries,” he said.
The Vice-President’s comments come amid ongoing disagreements between the Federal Government and opposition figures over the economic impact of subsidy removal and other government policies.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, has repeatedly used economic data and public expenditure figures to question government decisions. He has also advocated transparency, fiscal discipline and accountability in public administration.
Shettima’s latest criticism follows his previous description of Obi as a “master of bogus statistics” at a political gathering in Abuja. The remark was part of the political exchanges between the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition figures after the 2023 presidential election.
President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, shortly after assuming office. The decision contributed to higher fuel prices, increasing transportation costs and the prices of goods and services.
While the Federal Government has defended the policy as necessary to ease the financial burden of subsidy payments on public finances, opposition politicians have urged the government to introduce stronger measures to cushion the effects of rising living costs on Nigerians.