Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has declared that Nigeria currently needs a leader with experience in wealth creation and management, insisting that no other presidential aspirant, including President Bola Tinubu, can match his background in that area.
Obi made the remarks during an interview with Kayode Akintemi on the programme 60 Minutes with Kay aired on Thursday.
The former Anambra State governor spoke while reacting to comments made by Rabiu Kwankwaso during an appearance at Chatham House in 2023.
At the time, Kwankwaso, who was the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, stated that he was more qualified to be president than to serve as Obi’s running mate because he possessed a PhD.
Both Obi and Kwankwaso have now aligned with the Nigeria Democratic Congress, with political observers speculating that Kwankwaso could emerge as Obi’s running mate ahead of the 2027 elections after the party reportedly zoned its presidential ticket to the South.
Reacting to the qualification debate, Obi acknowledged Kwankwaso’s educational background and political experience but maintained that Nigeria’s current economic challenges require a leader skilled in creating and managing wealth.
“Qualification is a perspective and it depends on where you’re coming from. He said he was more qualified because he has a PhD which is not bad. I don’t have a PhD,” Obi said.
“He has some experience, he’s exposed. He was a minister. There’s no doubt about that. I don’t think his claim was wrong but for what Nigeria needs today, Nigeria needs a wealth creator, wealth manager.”
Obi further argued that his experience in building businesses locally and internationally gives him an edge over other political contenders.
“I have built reputable businesses from scratch locally and internationally. Nobody today in this context, including the president, can claim to have passed through my experience,” he stated.
The former presidential candidate also responded to critics who often describe him as a “common trader,” insisting that trading successfully requires intelligence and discipline.
“What Nigeria needs today is somebody that creates wealth, not somebody who shares wealth, somebody who can manage resources more efficiently and save for the future,” Obi added.
