Oshiomhole Defends Tinubu, Accuses Akpabio of Bias, Criticises Obi and Amaechi Ahead of 2027

Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s handling of security challenges in the country while criticising Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Speaking during an appearance on Mic On Podcast on Sunday, Oshiomhole alleged that the Senate’s actions in a recent matter involving him were contrary to the rules and traditions of the upper legislative chamber.

According to him, more than 80 per cent of his colleagues supported his position because they believed the Senate acted improperly.

“In this particular instance, I think the Senate President has a personal interest. Now, I know the Senate President; they said his daughter was taken by Mele Kyari and put in what Nigerians would call a juicy position that she probably didn’t merit,” Oshiomhole said.

The former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president further accused Senate President Akpabio of being hostile toward him.

“Godswill Akpabio is so paranoid about anything that has to do with me. Everybody in the Senate knows that if Senator Akpabio had his way, he would lock me out of the Senate because he has misled himself into thinking that I am probably the devil he knows. The 11th Senate will not be like the 10th Senate,” he stated.

On the issue of insecurity, Oshiomhole defended President Tinubu’s efforts, arguing that the current administration inherited longstanding security challenges.

“Did insecurity start under this government? Can you put your hand on the Bible and say that President Tinubu is not doing enough for security? He is doing enough. He promised, but he didn’t say he would perform magic,” he said.

The senator also took a swipe at Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC claiming that security challenges in Anambra State persisted during Obi’s tenure as governor.

“When I was governor, my state was safer than Anambra under Obi. If Obi couldn’t fix Anambra State, he couldn’t control the Bakassi Boys, who got out of control,” Oshiomhole said.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Oshiomhole expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure a second term.

“Tinubu will win in 2027 hands down, and this boy will not get the votes he got before,” he said, referring to Obi.

Responding to a question on whether he would have organised protests against the current administration if he were still NLC president, Oshiomhole said protests must be based on specific grievances and not undertaken arbitrarily.

“You don’t protest without reason; you protest for a specific reason. Will I be protesting now against the withdrawal of the subsidy? I will not protest,” he said.

Oshiomhole also criticised former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, dismissing his recent claim that he played the decisive role in making former President Muhammadu Buhari president in 2015.

“Amaechi recently lied that he is the one who made Buhari president. Meanwhile, Amaechi did not vote for Buhari in 2015 because he unwisely directed the people of Rivers to boycott the polls, as he was overwhelmed by the forces of Wike,” Oshiomhole alleged.