‘What Else Would You Expect Him To Say?’ Kwankwaso Fires Back At Shettima Over Obi Comment

Rabiu Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has faulted Vice-President Kashim Shettima for describing Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, as a “master of bogus statistics”.

Kwankwaso said although Obi, like every other human being, could make mistakes or experience a slip of the tongue, Shettima’s criticism of the former Anambra State governor was unjustified.

He spoke on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he was asked to respond to Shettima’s remarks about Obi’s use of statistics and economic proposals.

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

He added, “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.”

LEADERSHIP reports that Shettima had criticised Obi on Wednesday, questioning his claim that he won the 2023 presidential election and faulting his economic prescriptions.

“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,” the vice-president said.

He also described Obi as “the master of bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions”.

Shettima further compared the adoption of foreign policies without considering local peculiarities to trying to fit a garment designed for a smaller body onto a much larger physique.

However, Kwankwaso praised Obi’s familiarity with development statistics, describing it as a positive attribute 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,” he said.

The exchange  came amid political debate over Obi’s claims concerning the outcome of the 2023 presidential election and his economic policy proposals, with Shettima questioning the accuracy of his figures and Kwankwaso defending his use of statistics.