Peter Obi has squandered his goodwill — Shettima

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has squandered the goodwill he enjoyed, accusing him of making “lies and bogus statistics”.

Shettima made the remarks on Friday while speaking at the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, attended by President Bola Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno and other party leaders.

Speaking about Obi’s political activities and his return to Nigeria, the vice-president said the former Labour Party presidential candidate had lost the support and excitement he once enjoyed.

“Peter Obi has clearly messed up and squandered away his goodwill. He no longer excites. When he speaks these days, he only draws suspicions. Too bad for him,” Shettima said.

He also accused Obi of running himself out of the presidential race with what he described as lies and bogus statistics.

I hear my friend Peter Obi is back in the country after sneaking out to have a rest. He might have avoided Lagos and Abuja on arrival, but clearly this gentleman has run himself out of this race with his lies and bogus statistics,” he said.

Turning to Atiku, Shettima questioned the former vice-president’s claim that his years in public service made him the most experienced candidate to lead the country.

He said Nigerians should assess Atiku’s record based on his achievements and contributions rather than the number of years he spent holding public office.

“Whenever Vice President Atiku Abubakar speaks about his experience and record of public service, I wonder whether he believes Nigerians have lost their memories,” Shettima said.

He acknowledged Atiku’s career in the Nigeria Customs Service and his eight years as vice-president between 1999 and 2007, but argued that those positions alone did not establish his leadership record.

“Nobody disputes that Mr Atiku attended the School of Hygiene in Kano and subsequently joined the Nigeria Customs Service and became the Vice President of Nigeria for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. These are facts, but the experience cannot be established by counting the years spent in public service.

“The more important questions are what one accomplished, which institutions one strengthened, and which leaders one prepared to carry forward a common vision,” he said.

Shettima also contrasted Atiku’s record with Tinubu’s, listing the President’s education, professional career, political activities and time in public office as examples of different forms of experience.

He said Nigerians were entitled to examine the achievements and shortcomings of both political figures.

The vice-president further questioned Atiku’s administrative, business and political record, saying, “And now, how about we move beyond qualifications and put into context Atiku’s administrative, business and political sagacity, that is, if it has any. Charity, they say, begins at home.”

The remarks came amid political and legal challenges surrounding Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambition and the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress.