Oshiomhole Slams Peter Obi Ahead of 2027, Labels Him a ‘Trader’ Without Viable Alternatives

​ABUJA — Senator Adams Oshiomhole has launched a scathing critique of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, dismissing his political framework as short-sighted and lacking any tangible policy alternatives to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

​Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former Edo State governor argued that Obi’s background as a trader heavily influences his approach to governance, anchoring it on immediate turnover rather than structural, long-term national growth.

​“Peter Obi has not offered any alternative. I think it is you or someone else who asked him for security, what will you do differently? He said, it’s in his heart. I’ve always said that Peter Obi is a trader; the logic of a trader is short-term turnover. A statesman that Tinubu represents thinks of the next generation,” Oshiomhole stated.

​Contrasting Visions for 2027

​Oshiomhole maintained that while opposition figures have every right to seek the highest office, President Tinubu has earned a mandate for a second term after bearing the brunt of implementing tough initial economic reforms. He cautioned the electorate against opting to “recruit a new apprentice” when the current administration is beginning to stabilize the economy.

​The federal lawmaker also trained his guns on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, criticizing the economic management style under the PDP administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He pointed to historical issues with salary payments and a faulted multiple exchange rate system as reasons to reject a return to past policies.

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​Defense of Workers’ Welfare and Reforms

​Defending the current administration’s scorecard on labor relations, Oshiomhole highlighted the federal government’s recent interventions, particularly the approval of a ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for workers across all levels to cushion economic hardships.

​The intervention, which commenced in November 2026 following agreements with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)—alongside a three-month installment plan for outstanding peculiar allowances—was described by the senator as proof of executive empathy.

​“If a man who was on ₦70,000 now is given ₦70,000 addition that makes it ₦140,000 for him it’s a hundred percent increase and if you know what ₦10,000 means for the real masses, you’ll appreciate that Tinubu has shown that he cares,” Oshiomhole argued.

​Despite the administration’s defense, the policy continues to face pushback from other organized labor factions, such as the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which maintains that workers require sustainable, permanent salary adjustments rather than temporary palliatives.