Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole on Monday launched an attack on the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) Peter Obi, over his criticism of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
Oshiomhole, a former Edo State governor, accused the one-time Anambra governor of misunderstanding Nigeria’s economy and “exporting jobs” instead of creating employment for Nigerians.
The senator, who defended President Tinubu’s economic policies, dismissed Obi’s criticisms, insisting that the country was already on the path to recovery despite the initial pains triggered by the reforms.
The senator spoke during an interview on TVC in response to Obi Channel’s TV interview on Sunday claim that President Tinubu was no longer the energetic leader who governed Lagos State and should retire.
Oshiomhole said the former Anambra State governor lacked the experience to appreciate the depth of Nigeria’s economic challenges when Tinubu assumed office.
According to him, Tinubu inherited an economy that was “virtually grounded” and had to undertake painful but necessary reforms to prevent a total collapse.
Oshiomhole argued that Obi, “being a trader”, viewed the economy from a narrow commercial perspective rather than from the standpoint of industrial development.
“Obi is not aware because he is busy trading. His business is to export jobs and import unemployment into the country. That is what he lives for. He is a trader,” the senator said.
According to him, sustainable economic growth depends on long-term investments in manufacturing and infrastructure rather than trading activities.
The Edo senator also described Obi as an opposition figure living on false hope because he profited from the discontent generated by the naira redesign and cash scarcity policy implemented during the closing months of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
He argued that the unprecedented hardship caused by the policy, coupled with internal divisions within the then ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), created the conditions that boosted Obi’s popularity during the 2023 presidential election.
Interrogating Obi’s record as governor in Anambra, Oshiomhole argued that anyone who could not fully transform a state after eight years in office should not claim he could fix Nigeria within four years. Nigerian Entrepreneur Support
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