Kwankwaso defends Obi over Shettima’s ‘bogus statistics’ jibe
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has publicly disagreed with Vice President Kashim Shettima regarding Shettima’s criticisms of Peter Obi’s economic comparisons during a recent address.
Kwankwaso defended the accuracy of economic statistics presented by Obi, the NDC’s presidential candidate, and challenged Shettima’s characterization of Obi as relying on dubious data and inconsistent economic policies. The comments from Shettima were made Wednesday at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
In his remarks, Shettima acknowledged a personal friendship with Obi but criticized his use of comparisons between Nigeria and several other nations, specifically highlighting Bangladesh. Shettima contended that the economic contexts of Nigeria and Bangladesh are markedly different, questioning the relevance of applying lessons from the South Asian country to Nigeria’s situation.
In response, Kwankwaso defended Obi during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, asserting that his examination of Obi’s figures did not indicate significant inaccuracies. He countered Shettima’s statement, suggesting a predictable outcome given their political positions.
Kwankwaso noted that he frequently engages with Obi’s economic arguments and has found many of the statistics presented to be credible. While acknowledging the potential for occasional errors in public discourse, he argued that Shettima’s depiction of Obi was misplaced.
The former governor of Kano State emphasized that Obi’s understanding of development indicators globally is an essential attribute for any presidential candidate, adding that Obi’s familiarity with data from Nigeria, Europe, Asia, and beyond is advantageous for the nation’s leadership.
Kwankwaso also remarked on the alignment of their visions for Nigeria, stating that mutual understanding of the country’s needs facilitated their collaboration under the NDC banner. He expressed that their shared objectives simplify the establishment of a unified political platform aimed at reinforcing the party and advancing Nigeria’s development.
