The lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, of contributing to the decline of Nigeria’s industrial sector during their time in government.
Oshiomhole, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress, alleged that the administration was responsible for the shutdown of major manufacturing companies, including Michelin and Dunlop, leaving the country increasingly dependent on imported goods.
He made the remarks on Thursday while addressing supporters at the APC presidential campaign rally in Ekiti State.
The former governor of Edo State also questioned the performance of the Obasanjo administration in the power sector, recalling that Atiku had publicly acknowledged the government’s expenditure of $16 billion on electricity projects during his tenure as vice president.
“Atiku Abubakar, as Vice President, was crying on television that his government and his oga, Obasanjo, spent $16 billion on power. So you ask Atiku: how many more US dollars do you need?” he said.
He further challenged Atiku’s comments on Nigeria’s rising unemployment, arguing that the former vice president’s administration should be held accountable for policies and developments that contributed to the closure of local industries and the loss of employment opportunities.
“I understand that Atiku is lamenting unemployment. Who closed down Nigerian industries? Who closed down Michelin? Who closed down Dunlop? Who reduced Nigeria to an importer of everything from underwear to socks? It was done by the government and the party to which Atiku belonged,” he said.
Oshiomhole subsequently appealed to voters in Ekiti State to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. He pointed to the approval of a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers as one of the measures by the current administration that, in his view, deserves public recognition and electoral support.
