Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party has reiterated how his educational and entrepreneurial qualifications make him the better candidate for the 2023 polls ahead of his APC counterpart Bola Tinubu.
“INEC has stated the qualifications for contesting the elections which I’m sure I’ve fulfilled and I do not know the special qualification his principal, the APC candidate, possesses that I do not possess and I think I’m more qualified than his principal for that office,” Mr Obi said in response to a question during an interview with Vanguard newspaper.
The former Anambra State governor further reeled out why his qualifications are more than enough to see him lead Africa’s largest population.
“Is it age qualification? Is it education? Is it in terms of being an entrepreneur? I believe that anybody can be more qualified than me. But I’m qualified. His principal is a two-term governor, I am a two-term governor too. I’ve managed public resources comfortably and effectively to the best of my knowledge,” Mr Obi stated. “I’m not saying other people didn’t do well. I’m not saying others are not qualified. But I’m saying that if we look at what we have been able to do in the past, I’m very very qualified to be the president of the country.”
His comments came in response to a statement made by the presidential running mate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Kashim Shettima who cast aspersions on Mr Obi’s capacity to govern Nigeria.
Last week, Mr Shettima said that Mr Obi lacked the structure and political base to win the 2023 election, as well as a lack of leadership ideology like President Muhammadu Buhari and his principal, Bola Tinubu.
Mr Obi’s educational background spans the Lagos Business School, and Harvard Business School, where he completed two major programs, the London School of Economics, Columbia Business School, and the International Institute for Management Development. Mr Obi also attended the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University, Saïd Business School of Oxford University and the Judge Business School of Cambridge University.
His political career includes him serving as the former governor of Anambra state, as well as serving on multiple National Economic Council Committees. These committees include Minimum Wage; Negotiation with Labour on Subsidy; Committee on Mass Transit; Committee on Natural Resource; Committee on Power Sector Reform; Committee on Sharing of MDGs Funds; Committee on Accurate Data on Nigeria’s Oil Import and Export among others.
Mr Tinubu has been enmeshed in a long-drawn academic certificates controversies. The former Mobil treasurer claims he holds two degrees from American universities which he failed to produce alongside his secondary school certificates during his filing with INEC. He claims soldiers who stormed his house during NADECO struggle pillaged his belongings.