Obi Can’t Govern 250 Million Nigerians With Borrowed Statistics, Says Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has questioned the suitability of Peter Obi’s financial proposals for Nigeria, warning that insurance policies adopted in different nations can’t be utilized wholesale with out accounting for the nation’s inhabitants, financial construction and native situations.

Shettima spoke on Wednesday on the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council on the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

He described the 2027 Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate as “the master of bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions” and urged Nigerians to re-elect President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

“A country of over 250 million people cannot be governed through borrowed statistics and economic prescriptions detached from its peculiarities”, he mentioned.

The VP cited Bangladesh for instance of a rustic whose financial insurance policies couldn’t robotically produce comparable leads to Nigeria due to variations in inhabitants, establishments and prevailing financial situations.

Shettima additionally challenged Obi’s repeated claims that he gained the 2023 presidential election.

“I respect Peter Obi. But he has gone beyond his mastery of philosophy to make an august claim about winning the 2023 presidential election without adducing a shred of evidence to buttress his assertion”, the Vice President mentioned.

Shettima additionally criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his presidential ambition, arguing that the pursuit of the nation’s highest workplace required character, self-discipline and an understanding of the tasks of management.

Despite his assaults on opposition figures, Shettima informed APC marketing campaign officers to keep away from private disputes and deal with coverage debates and the administration’s report.

“For the rest of the duration of this campaign, we’ll discuss ideas, we’ll discuss policies, but we’ll treat all our opponents with respect and dignity. They are not our enemies. They are our brothers. They are our countrymen. They are our leaders”, he declared.

He mentioned the ruling get together would reply to criticism with proof and motive slightly than have interaction in hostile exchanges.

“We have the capacity to respond to all sorts of innuendos and outright lies that our political opponents are taking on. But we won’t fall into their traps. We’ll give them facts. We’ll give them statistics. We argue with reason, not with sentiments, not with exaggerated truth or fabricated lies”, he said.

On the financial system, Shettima defended the Tinubu administration’s removing of the petrol subsidy and its international alternate reforms, describing the measures as mandatory responses to fiscal pressures and structural weaknesses.

He acknowledged the hardship related to the insurance policies however maintained that the federal government was starting to report constructive financial outcomes.

The VP cited reported financial development of 4.2 per cent within the first half of 2026, whereas acknowledging that improved financial indicators would wish to translate into tangible beneficial properties for households.

“The next obligation is to turn these gains into jobs, meaningful earnings and meaningful planning”, he mentioned.

Shettima mentioned the federal government wanted to enhance coverage implementation and be sure that elevated public income produced higher outcomes for Nigerians.

“We must protect the reforms, improve their execution, and carry their benefits from the treasury to the household”, the Vice President declared.

He urged that Tinubu must be given a second time period to consolidate the administration’s financial programme, warning that abandoning the reforms halfway might undermine the progress achieved to this point.

“President Tinubu deserves a second term because the work has acquired momentum that Nigeria cannot afford to squander”, he mentioned.

Shettima urged members of the APC marketing campaign council to have interaction instantly with communities, clarify the administration’s insurance policies and set out how its programmes would enhance dwelling situations.

“Every committee of the Presidential Campaign Council must earn its place through hard work. Every community must hear our case,” he mentioned.

He added that APC’s 2027 marketing campaign ought to relaxation on the administration’s efficiency and plans for the nation, including that the get together wanted to justify the boldness it was asking voters to position in it.

“Our appeal in 2027 must therefore be worthy of the confidence we sought in 2022. We chose a leader capable of building beyond himself. We must now secure the time for those foundations to serve generations beyond us”, he mentioned.

Shettima maintained that the administration’s success would depend upon its potential to strengthen establishments, increase financial alternatives and be sure that the prices of its reforms translate into lasting advantages for Nigerians.