- Fuel subsidy should have been removed gradually, not abruptly — Obi
- Umahi says Obi, Atiku, El-Rufai, others lack credibility to unseat Tinubu
- Wike rallies PDP stakeholders, reiterates G5’s stance on 2023 elections
The Presidency, on Monday, reacted to the criticism of former Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing him as a ‘shallow’ personality who is not well grounded in the issues of economics and governance.
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, disclosed this in a statement posted via his official X account.
While stating that he was surprised Obi could agree with the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, especially on fuel subsidy removal and the unification of foreign exchange, Bwala emphasised that it was obvious the former Anambra governor and other opposition figures were simply after taking over power, all the while.
He wrote, “Is anybody watching Peter Obi on Arise TV?
“He agreed with our policy of removal of subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange; he claimed he would have done it better than us in an ‘organised manner’
“He was asked what the ‘organised manner ‘is.’ He played with words, yet to arrive at agreeing with us.
“Anybody with a rational mind knows these guys are just looking to grab power, but they don’t have any alternative agenda.
“He seems to have very shallow knowledge of economics and governance.
“Remember, this is even an interview anchored by a member of his Obidient movement.
“That’s why you don’t hear ‘I put it to you’ and no barking like a Rottweiler; Yet ‘if it didn’t Dey it didn’t Dey.”
Fuel subsidy should have been removed gradually, not abruptly — Obi
Obi had said that he would have removed the petrol subsidy and floated the naira if elected president, but would have done so gradually and in a more organised manner.
Obi said, “I have consistently maintained that I would have removed the fuel subsidy.
“If you go to my manifesto, it is there, along with the steps I would have taken in an organised manner.
“There is nothing wrong with the removal of fuel subsidy.
“What is wrong is the haphazard way in which it was announced and implemented.”
Obi described the petrol subsidy system as rife with “criminality and corruption” and insisted that it was essential to end it.
However, he questioned the current government’s use of the savings from the subsidy removal.
“Since we were told that we removed it because we do not want to borrow, and that the funds would allow for investments in critical infrastructure.
“Billions saved. Where is it? Where has it been invested in critical areas of development?” he asked.
“Everybody knows the critical areas of development: education, health, and pulling people out of poverty. Have any of these three improved? No.”
On the issue of the naira, Obi said he supports floating the currency but stressed the need for groundwork, particularly in boosting domestic production.
“There is nothing wrong with floating and devaluing your currency. You do this when you have productivity,” he said.
Obi added that his administration would have focused on strengthening the agriculture and manufacturing sectors before moving to float the naira.
“In all of this, I would have done the same thing in an organised manner,” he concluded.
Obi, Atiku, El-Rufai, others lack credibility to unseat Tinubu – Umahi
Also, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has declared that there are no credible opposition candidates capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
He cited the President’s achievements in governance and national integration.
Recently, former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Tinubu’s former ally and former Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai and other politicians have been in discussion over a coalition movement to unseat Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Speaking in Abakaliki during the 2025 Sallah celebration with the Muslim community, Umahi said Tinubu has delivered quality leadership to Nigerians and deserves a second term.
He urged the South East region to rally behind the President, crediting him with reversing years of federal neglect in the region.
“Before now, many South East states had no federal projects. But today, federal presence is visible across the region. That is what true national integration looks like,” Umahi said.
He lauded the President for appointing individuals of South East origin to strategic positions in government, including himself as Minister of Works, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Minister of Science and Technology.
He described these appointments as significant steps toward reintegrating the Southeast into national governance.
“We lost political ground in the past, but this government is bringing us back. It’s not yet perfect, but we are no longer left behind. We must acknowledge that and support the President,” he added.
Umahi also urged South East residents to reject divisive rhetoric and embrace constructive engagement with the federal government.
“The South East must count one before counting two. We need reintegration, not isolation. President Tinubu has started this process—we must not waste the opportunity,” he stated.
The former Governor of Ebonyi State praised President Tinubu for fostering what he described as an “unprecedented level” of interfaith harmony and national unity.
He cited the President’s decision to lead a Nigerian delegation to the Vatican for the Pope’s inauguration as a “unique and historic” gesture that surprised many Christians and highlighted a new era of religious tolerance.
“The foundation of all religions is love. We all serve one God in different ways. Both Muslims and Christians preach love and the fear of God,” Umahi noted.
Reaffirming his loyalty to President Tinubu, Umahi praised the President’s consistent support for the Ministry of Works, calling it evidence of sincere and inclusive leadership.
“If you betray such a man, you betray God and Nigeria. I serve God and the President with the fear of God,” he said.
Leaders of the Muslim community in Ebonyi, including Sariki Danjuma Gambo and Salis Mohammed, echoed Umahi’s sentiments.
They commended the prevailing peace in the state and pledged their full support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Wike rallies PDP stakeholders, reiterates G5’s stance on 2023 elections
Similarly, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has attributed the stability in the country to the activities of the G5 governors in the country.
Wike made the statement during a meeting with Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP at his official residence in Abuja, on Monday.
Present at the meeting were the former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, National Secretary of the PDP, Sam Anyanwu, serving and former lawmakers of the party and delegates from the 36 states and the FCT.
Addressing the stakeholders, Wike highlighted the stance of the G5 governors during the 2023 elections, notably the governors’ refusal to support the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, adding that the party wouldn’t be where it was today if it had listened to them.
The Governors had opposed Atiku’s candidacy, citing the zoning formula enshrined in the party’s constitution, adding that the Presidency should rather be zoned to the South, after eight years of a northern presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Wike urged the stakeholders to show their belief in unity, like the founding fathers of the party, rather than allowing “selfish interests” and greed to destroy the party
“You may recall we have said this, we want to say it again; today this country is stabilised because of the activities of the G5 governors.
“You may like us, you may hate us. The truth of the matter is, if the G5 had not taken the decision we took, this country would have been in crisis.
“It doesn’t matter who is a beneficiary or not. The point is that the right thing must be done for the stability of the country, and we took that decision, and we continue to stand by the decision.
“If the party had listened to what we said, we wouldn’t be where we are today. And we have continued to sound it to the party, let the Constitution of the party, let the Constitution of Nigeria be respected, and all other laws.
“Now, as an opposition party, we cannot continue to act with impunity. No opposition party in this world survives acting on impunity.
“If we want to show Nigeria that we believe in the unity of this country, the way the founding fathers of this country have done it, let us go that way.
“Of course, their selfish interests would not allow it. And we said, this will not work; let us not allow greed. Let us not allow ego to kill our party,” Wike said.
The Minister also addressed the contention over the seat of the National Secretary of the party, noting that the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, contested for the governorship of the state while he held the position of state chairman of the party.
“All politicians are selfish. It’s correct. We capitalise on opportunities.
“The Governor of Taraba State was the chairman of the party. He never resigned.
“Kefas, wherever you are, hear me today. It was when he won as governor that he appointed his successor. Is that not correct?” Wike said.
Meanwhile, former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, said no one has contributed to the party like Wike had, adding that the PDP had made a lot of mistakes.
“For whatever reason, for lack of time, I won’t talk about that, but PDP made a lot of mistakes, and we have found ourselves where we are today,” he said.
Ortom also called on the party to “seek the face of God” for a return to leadership, while urging stakeholders to respect the rule of law and follow due process, as well as the Nigerian Constitution and the Constitution of the PDP.