Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has said Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is not fit to become Nigeria’s president, arguing that his background as a trader does not align with the long-term vision required to lead the country.
Speaking during an interview on TVC, Oshiomhole described Obi as someone whose business experience is centered on short-term transactions rather than long-term planning.
“Peter Obi is a trader. Traders have short-term calculations. They are not into long-term projections. Their turnover is within three months, maximum of six months,” he said.
The senator also questioned Obi’s political consistency, recalling his departure from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) despite previously pledging to remain loyal to the party in honour of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
“The Peter Obi who was governor of Anambra State is not the same today. He once said that, out of respect for the memory of Odumegwu Ojukwu, he would never leave APGA. But immediately after leaving office, he moved on and aligned with people Ojukwu would probably never have associated with when he became Atiku Abubakar’s running mate,” Oshiomhole said.
According to the lawmaker, Nigeria requires leaders with backgrounds in manufacturing, investment and entrepreneurship, arguing that such experience fosters patience, long-term planning and industrial development.
“It is a manufacturer, an investor or an entrepreneur that understands what it takes to spend years building a factory, importing machinery and establishing production before seeing returns,” he said.
Oshiomhole further alleged that Obi’s business interests contribute to job losses in Nigeria through importation rather than local production.
“Peter Obi’s business is to export jobs and import unemployment into the country. That is what he lives for. He’s a trader. He owns a shopping mall,” he said.
The comments come amid increasing political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major political figures continuing to exchange criticisms over their records and leadership credentials.
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