Shettima to Obi: Importing cheap South African wines doesn’t make you economic guru

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Peter Obi’s ability to “import cheap South African wines” does not make him an economic expert.

Speaking on Wednesday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Akure, the Ondo state capital, Shettima criticised Obi’s record as governor of Anambra and his understanding of the Nigerian economy.

He said Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), lacked the support of former governors of Anambra, including Chris Ngige and Willy Obiano, as well as Chukwuma Soludo, the incumbent governor of the state.

“It is cheap to vie for presidency in Nigeria, especially for my big friend, Peter Obi, who thinks cloud chasing, like he went out of protocol to welcome our young victorious Flamingos; the female footballers are what it entails,” the vice-president said.

“You must have grassroots and stakeholders’ support. When the president said he ran away from erosion, believe me, he did.

“But then, how many of the past governors of Anambra are with him? Is Chris Ngige with him? The answer is no. Is Willie Obiano with him? The answer is no. Is my friend Charles Chukwuma Soludo with him? The answer is no.

“Your excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the ability to import cheap South African wines doesn’t make one a guru in economics.

“Peter Obi, in spite of all his pretensions about the knowledge of the economy, his performance as the governor of Anambra was best mediocre, and Peter Obi calls Lagos home… and that goes to show that he is benefitting from the quality of leadership provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.

Shettima challenged opposition presidential candidates to “come out and tell us specifically their major accomplishments in the past 25 years of democratic governance in Nigeria”.

He added that there was a consensus in support of Tinubu’s re-election bid in Ondo state, citing the backing of key stakeholders like Olusegun Mimiko, a former governor of the state.

“And for the people of Ondo, as we are talking, there is a universal elite consensus backing the president here in Ondo,” Shettima said.

“Former Governor Olusegun Mimiko is firmly on board.”