Vice‑President [Kashim Shettima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashim_Shettima) publicly rejected the economic agenda of opposition candidate [Peter Obi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Obi) during the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, arguing that Obi provides no concrete solutions beyond questionable data and his pledge not to reinstate the petrol subsidy.
**What was Shettima’s main criticism?**
Shettima acknowledged Obi’s stance on ending the subsidy but contended that the former governor’s proposals lack depth. He said, “I respect Peter Obi for having the courage to say he’s not going to restore the petrol subsidy, but beyond spouting some dubious statistics, Mr Peter Obi has absolutely nothing to offer.”
**Why does Shettima doubt Obi’s statistics?**
The Vice‑President pointed to Obi’s frequent comparisons between Nigeria and Bangladesh, arguing that economic models cannot be transplanted without accounting for local realities. He illustrated the point with a clothing‑size metaphor, noting that “a size 36 shirt tailored for Bangladesh will somehow fit Nigeria’s size 52 frame.”
**What does Shettima say about policy suitability?**
He stressed that Nigeria’s policies must reflect its population of over 250 million, its institutions, political climate, and economic structure, rather than rely on “borrowed statistics and economic prescriptions detached from its peculiarities.”
**How did Shettima address Obi’s claim of winning the 2023 election?**
Shettima dismissed the assertion as unsupported, labeling it a “delusion of grandeur” and accusing Obi of repackaging old political ideas as a fresh direction for the country.
**Background on the debate**
The criticism comes from the [Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_Democratic_Conference), whose presidential candidate has consistently opposed the reinstatement of the petrol subsidy, a policy that has been a flashpoint in Nigerian fiscal discussions. The Nigerian Economic Summit, a platform for policy dialogue, has become a stage for the two leaders to clash over the nation’s economic trajectory.
Overall, Shettima’s remarks underscore a broader contest between the incumbent administration’s approach to fiscal management and the opposition’s alternative vision, with the petrol subsidy and statistical credibility at the centre of the dispute.