Tinubu Mocks Obi, Says He Tamed Atlantic Ocean While Ex-Anambra Governor Failed to Tackle Erosion
By KEMI KASUMU
“There is one who says he is in a party they call NDC, who is running for president. He ran away from erosion in Anambra State,” Tinubu said.
President Bola Tinubu has taken a swipe at Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), questioning his record in tackling erosion during his tenure as governor of Anambra State.
Tinubu made the remarks on Friday while addressing supporters at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The President boasted that he successfully confronted the Atlantic Ocean during his tenure as Lagos State governor, contrasting his record with Obi’s handling of erosion in Anambra.
“There is one who says he is in a party they call NDC, who is running for president. He ran away from erosion in Anambra State,” Tinubu said.
“He could not confront erosion. I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confronted the Atlantic Ocean. I tamed it for him.”
The President reiterated his criticism while speaking at the launch of the Arise Palm Resort in Uyo, where he commended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, for the development of the facility.
Tinubu described the resort as an achievement made possible by land reclamation, using the project to further question Obi’s performance as Anambra governor.
“Here we are on a resort reclaimed from erosion. And we are going to enjoy life here. You want to compare the brain of this man to that of Obi?” he asked.
“He ran away from erosion in Anambra. And he now wants to be president? President of where? Lilikabu?”
Tinubu’s comments followed an earlier attack on Obi by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who also criticised the former Anambra governor during the APC rally.
Shettima had accused Obi of making false claims and presenting what he described as bogus statistics, arguing that the NDC presidential candidate had lost the goodwill he previously enjoyed among Nigerians.
“I hear my friend Peter Obi is back in the country after sneaking out to have a rest. He might have avoided Lagos and Abuja on arrival,” Shettima said.
He added that Obi had allegedly undermined his political standing through his public statements.
“Peter Obi has clearly messed up and squandered away his goodwill; he no longer excites when he speaks these days. He draws suspicions, too bad for him,” the Vice-President said.
Obi served as governor of Anambra State from March 2006 to March 2014, with a brief interruption, on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
He initially assumed office following a court judgment that overturned the victory of Chris Ngige in the 2003 governorship election.
Tinubu, on the other hand, governed Lagos State from May 1999 to May 2007, completing two terms on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
The exchanges come amid intensifying political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with leading political figures increasingly using campaign platforms to assess and challenge the records of their opponents.
