Vice-President Kashim Shettima has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, saying he has nothing to offer Nigerians beyond citing statistics.\n<\/p>\n
Shettima made the remarks at an event in Abuja on Monday, urging members of the country\u2019s economic community to support the Federal Government\u2019s policies and defending its position on petrol subsidy removal.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI respect Peter Obi for having the courage to say he\u2019s not going to restore the petrol subsidy, but beyond spouting some statistics, Mr Peter Obi has absolutely nothing to offer.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was surviving on various statistics. So, I call on you, the cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me of the Nigerian economic community, to support us,\u201d the Vice-President said.<\/p>\n
Shettima also compared petrol prices in Nigeria with those in neighbouring countries, arguing that the figures showed the implications of the country\u2019s previous fuel pricing arrangements.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is the price of fuel in our neighbouring communities? A few years ago, Nigeria was consuming around 67 million litres of fuel per day.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe comparison is wide. Nigeria was Christmas for other African countries,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Vice-President\u2019s comments come amid continued political debate over the removal of the petrol subsidy and its economic consequences, with Obi and other opposition figures criticising aspects of the Federal Government\u2019s handling of the economy.\n<\/p>\n
Obi, a former Anambra State governor, has frequently relied on economic data and public spending figures in his criticism of government policies, while advocating greater transparency, fiscal discipline and accountability in public administration.\n<\/p>\n
Shettima\u2019s latest remarks also recall his earlier criticism of Obi, whom he described as a \u201cmaster of bogus statistics\u201d during a political event in Abuja. The phrase formed part of the exchanges between the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition figures following the 2023 presidential election. (Peter Obi has nothing to offer, Shettima declares\n<\/p>\n
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has criticised the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, saying he has nothing to offer Nigeria beyond citing statistics.\n<\/p>\n
Shettima made the remarks at an event in Abuja on Monday, where he urged members of the country\u2019s economic community to support the Federal Government\u2019s policies and defended its position on petrol subsidy removal. <\/p>\n
\u201cI respect Peter Obi for having the courage to say he\u2019s not going to restore the petrol subsidy, but beyond spouting some statistics, Mr Peter Obi has absolutely nothing to offer,\u201d the Vice-President said.<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cHe was surviving on various statistics. So, I call on you, the cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me of Nigerian economic community to support us.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Shettima also compared petrol prices in Nigeria with those in neighbouring countries, arguing that the figures showed the implications of the country\u2019s previous fuel pricing arrangements.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is the price of fuel in our neighbouring communities? A few years ago, Nigeria was consuming around 67 million litres of fuel per day,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, 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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cThe comparison is wide. Nigeria was Christmas for other African countries.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The Vice-President\u2019s comments come amid continued political debate over the removal of the petrol subsidy and its economic consequences, with Obi and other opposition figures criticising aspects of the Federal Government\u2019s handling of the economy.\n<\/p>\n
Obi, a former Anambra State governor, has frequently relied on economic data and public spending figures in his criticism of government policies, while advocating greater transparency, fiscal discipline and accountability in public administration.<\/p>\n