Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has attacked Peter Obi over the former governor’s claim that Nigeria would be richer if public funds were kept in banks to earn interest.
Keyamo reacted in a post on his X account, describing Obi’s comments as unintelligent and linking them to a sharp fall in the politician’s approval ratings.
“This dumbness is beyond measure. I really don’t know whether to laugh or to cry. No wonder his approval ratings have plummeted so badly. Nigeria did not just dodge a bullet; it ducked a massive howitzer!” Keyamo wrote.
Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, made the statement during an interview with a radio station in Nasarawa State. He argued that Nigeria could become much wealthier if its leaders allowed public money to remain in banks and earn interest instead of mismanaging the country’s resources.
“I wish everybody in this country left money in the bank; they have interest. Nigeria would have been so rich that we don’t know what to do with money,” he said.
The former governor also explained why his administration did not place much emphasis on public ceremonies and showing government projects on television.
According to Obi, projects funded with public money should be visible to citizens without the need for elaborate publicity.
“We did what we were doing with public money, so the public already see us working, so why are we going to do the ceremony or showing it on TV? Maybe I was wrong, but that was what happened,” he said.
