A slip of tongue’ — Kwankwaso defends Obi, faults Shettima over ‘bogus statistics’ remark

Rabiu Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has defended Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, in the face of the “bogus statistics” allegation lobbed by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

“I respect Peter Obi. But he has gone beyond his mastery of philosophy to make a bogus claim about winning the 2023 presidential election without adducing a shred of evidence to buttress his assertion,” Shettima said on Wednesday.

The vice-president described Obi as “the master of bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions”, juxtaposing the adoption of foreign policies without peculiarities with trying to fit a garment designed for a smaller body on a much larger physique.

‘MOST OF THE FIGURES WERE CORRECT’

Kwankwaso said although Obi, like everyone else, makes mistakes, Shettima was wrong to make the remark.

The running mate spoke on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television, where he was asked to respond to the vice-president’s criticism of Obi’s statistics and economic proposals.

“What else would you expect him to say?” Kwankwaso asked.

“You see, I always listen to him (Obi). Like all others, I take time to check the statistics. As far as I’m concerned, most of the figures he was reeling out were correct.

“And the only thing is, because as human beings, we are bound to make mistakes or slip of tongue, as they call it. But for him to come and make that statement, I don’t think he was correct.”

He praised Obi’s “proficiency” in development statistics, describing it as a positive for a presidential candidate.

“So I am happy that our presidential candidate is somebody who is conversant with the statistics not only in this country but all over the world, in Europe, in Asia, everywhere. And I think that is a good thing,” Kwankwaso added.