Oshiomhole Dismisses Peter Obi's Presidential Ambition, Cites Lack of Long-Term Vision

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has expressed his reservations about Peter Obi's candidacy for the presidency, stating that Obi lacks the necessary long-term vision for the role. In an interview on TVC, Oshiomhole characterized Obi as a trader who prioritizes short-term gains, suggesting that this mindset is not conducive to effective leadership. He noted, 'Peter Obi is a trader. Traders have short-term calculations, they are not into long-term projections. They are not wired to think about what the situation will be in the long run. Their turnover is within 3 months, maximum of 6 months.' Oshiomhole also criticized Obi's political history, pointing out inconsistencies between his past commitments and current alliances. He recalled that Obi, as the former Governor of Anambra State, had pledged to remain loyal to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) out of respect for the memory of Odumegwu Ojukwu, but later defected to other parties. Oshiomhole argued that a leader with experience in manufacturing or entrepreneurship, who understands the process of investing in and building projects over time, would be better suited to drive long-term industrial growth in Nigeria. He contended that Obi's background as a trader, focused on short-term profits, makes him unsuitable for the presidency. Oshiomhole further stated, 'You look at his lifestyle to be able to project what he would do if he were to become president, which he would not be, God willing. It is a manufacturer, an investor, an entrepreneur that understands how you can start a project, sweating for two to three years to build a factory, and then import machinery to install before you start producing.' He concluded by saying, 'Nigeria was virtually grounded. Peter Obi is not aware because he’s busy trading. I have said to people that Peter Obi’s business is to export job and import unemployment to the country. That is what he lives for. He’s a trader. He owns a shopping mall.'