Obi Failed to Fix Anambra in Eight Years, Yet Wants Nigerians to Trust Him With Four Years – Oshiomhole

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, has criticised the presidential ambition of former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, questioning his record in office and his ability to lead Nigeria.

Oshiomhole made the remarks during an interview on TVC News’ Beyond the Headline with Nifemi Oguntoye on Monday, while reacting to Obi’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and calls for a change of leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former Edo State governor argued that Obi’s performance as Anambra governor did not justify his ambition to govern Nigeria, saying a leader’s past record should be considered when assessing future promises.

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“Do you really believe that anybody who worked hard in eight years, but couldn’t fix a state. He’s telling you and me at our age that he just need four years. That is the height of desperation,” Oshiomhole said.

He added that political desperation could affect judgement, insisting that Obi would be easy to challenge in a debate because, according to him, the former Anambra governor lacked adequate understanding of Nigeria’s current realities.

“Once you are desperate, you become emotionally imbalanced and you are not capable. For me, Obi will be the easiest person to engage in a real debate because he is not aware of Nigeria,” he said.

Oshiomhole was responding to Obi’s recent criticism that President Tinubu, who governed Lagos State, was no longer the same person after assuming office as Nigeria’s president and should retire from politics.

The senator dismissed the comparison, arguing that Obi himself had changed over the years.

“The Peter Obi that was governor of Anambra State is not the Peter Obi of today,” Oshiomhole said.

He accused Obi of abandoning previous political positions and aligning with groups he claimed were inconsistent with his earlier stance.

“He said as a matter of respect to the memory of [Nnamdi] Azikiwe, he will not ever abandon APGA. But before his tenure ended, Obi became a political wanderer and he merely found alliance with perhaps the kind of people Ojukwu would never have related with when he became a running mate to Atiku Abubakar,” he said.