Vice-President Kashim Shettima has criticised Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, saying he has nothing to offer Nigerians beyond quoting statistics.
Shettima made the remarks at an event in Abuja on Monday, where he called on members of Nigeria’s economic community to back the Federal Government’s policies, particularly its decision to remove the petrol subsidy.
Although he praised Obi for ruling out a return to fuel subsidy, the Vice-President questioned what the opposition candidate could offer the country.
“I respect Peter Obi for having the courage to say he’s not going to restore the petrol subsidy, but beyond spouting some statistics, Mr Peter Obi has absolutely nothing to offer.
“He was surviving on various statistics. So, I call on you, the crème de la crème of the Nigerian economic community, to support us,” the Vice-President said.
Shettima also defended the government’s position by comparing petrol prices in Nigeria with those in neighbouring African countries. He recalled that Nigeria consumed about 67 million litres of fuel daily a few years ago.
“What is the price of fuel in our neighbouring communities? A few years ago, Nigeria was consuming around 67 million litres of fuel per day.
“Now, in Niger Republic, a litre of fuel goes for approximately N1,148.36, in Benin Republic it goes for N1,729.29, and in Cameroon it goes for N1,945.50; in our country, it goes for N1,390.
“The comparison is wide. Nigeria was Christmas for other African countries,” he said.
