Senator Adams Oshiomhole has criticised the 2027 presidential ambition of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Peter Obi, describing his promise to transform Nigeria within a single four-year term as unrealistic. The former Edo State governor said his Peter Obi Criticism was based on what he described as inconsistencies in Obi’s political career, his economic outlook, and the feasibility of his campaign promises.
Speaking on the issue, Oshiomhole questioned Obi’s political consistency, recalling that the former Anambra State governor had pledged to remain with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) out of respect for the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu but later left the party after completing his tenure.
“Let’s face it. The Peter Obi that was governor of Anambra State is not the Peter Obi of today, because the Peter Obi of Anambra was one who said, as a matter of respect to the memory of Ojukwu, he will not ever abandon APGA.
“But before daybreak, once his tenure ended, Obi became a political wanderer,” Oshiomhole said.
The senator also argued that Obi’s business background as a trader does not align with the long-term planning required to govern a country as complex as Nigeria. According to him, traders typically focus on short-term outcomes, unlike manufacturers and long-term investors who plan years ahead.
“Obi is a trader. Traders have short-term calculation. They are not into long-term projections. They are not wired to think of what situation will be in the long run,” he said.
Oshiomhole further alleged that Obi’s commercial activities emphasize importation rather than local production, claiming this approach does not support domestic job creation.
“Obi’s business is to export jobs and import unemployment to the country. That is what he lives for. He’s a trader,” he stated.
While criticizing Obi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies. He said the President inherited significant economic challenges and had implemented difficult but necessary reforms aimed at repositioning the country for long-term growth.
“Bola Ahmed Tinubu is someone who believes that for your tomorrow, we must do certain things today, painful as it may be,” Oshiomhole said.
He likened the administration’s economic reforms to a life-saving surgical procedure, arguing that although the measures have attracted criticism, the country is beginning to experience their intended benefits. Oshiomhole also referred to Obi’s comments during previous xenophobic attacks in South Africa, arguing that they reflected poor judgment for someone seeking Nigeria’s highest political office.
Questioning Obi’s campaign pledge to transform Nigeria within one term, he said, “Do you really believe that anybody whose business is for real, who couldn’t fix a state in four years, he worked hard in eight years, he didn’t fix it… is telling you and me at our age that he just needs four years? That is the height of desperation.”
He concluded by arguing that desperation can affect sound judgment and maintained that Obi’s campaign promises lacked credibility. “Once you are desperate, you become emotionally imbalanced,” Oshiomhole said, adding that Obi would be “the easiest person to engage in a debate.”
