Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has blamed former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for the closure of several industries in Nigeria.
Oshiomhole alleged that the administration in which Obasanjo served as president and Atiku as vice-president was responsible for the closure of companies such as Michelin and Dunlop, leaving the country increasingly dependent on imported goods.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain made the remarks on Thursday during the party’s presidential campaign rally in Ekiti State.
He urged residents to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing the current administration’s approval of a new minimum wage for workers.
Oshiomhole also criticised Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, over his comments on unemployment and Nigeria’s economic challenges.
He recalled that Atiku, while serving as vice-president, had publicly questioned the $16bn reportedly spent on power during the Obasanjo administration.
Oshiomhole questioned how much more funding Atiku believed was required to address the country’s electricity challenges.
He also challenged the former vice-president over his concerns about unemployment, asking who was responsible for the closure of Nigerian industries, including Michelin and Dunlop.
The senator alleged that the administration and political party to which Atiku belonged had contributed to Nigeria’s transformation into an import-dependent economy, with the country relying on foreign products ranging from underwear to socks.