Senator Adams Oshiomhole has criticised the presidential ambition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi, describing him as a trader whose business background makes him unsuitable to lead Nigeria.
Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and senator representing Edo North, made the remarks during an appearance on TVC’s Beyond the Headlines programme on Monday .
He argued that traders were generally concerned with short-term calculations and returns, rather than the long-term planning required to transform a country.
“Obi is a trader. Traders have short-term calculations. They are not into long-term projections. They are not wired to think of what the situation will be in the long run,” Oshiomhole said.
The former governor also accused Obi of being more focused on importation than domestic production, alleging that his business activities contributed to the export of jobs and importation of unemployment.
“Obi’s business is to export jobs and import unemployment to the country. That is what he lives for. He’s a trader,” he said.
Oshiomhole further dismissed Obi’s pledge to serve only one term if elected president in 2027, describing the promise to transform Nigeria within four years as unrealistic.
He questioned how Obi could fix Nigeria in a single term when, according to him, the former Anambra State governor had not achieved all he promised during his tenure in the state.
“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,” Oshiomhole said.
