Political commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has accused the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of frustrating Nigeria’s economic growth through what he described as “massive importation” of goods that can be locally produced.
In a statement shared on his social media handle, Omokri described Obi as “the single biggest individual importer in Nigeria,” claiming that his business operations contradict the government’s campaign for local production and economic self-reliance.
“As the single biggest individual importer in Nigeria, Peter Obi is the biggest threat to #GrowNairaBuyNaija,” Omokri alleged. “We cannot move from consumption to production and become a prosumer nation if people like Peter Obi, through his Next stores, do not stop their massive importation of goods that can be easily manufactured locally.”
He argued that as long as businessmen like Obi continue to flood the Nigerian market with foreign products, local industries will struggle to survive.
“As long as people like Peter Obi keep dumping cheap imported tomato paste, evaporated milk, cereals, toiletries, and other consumables on the Nigerian market, domestic manufacturers will strive and not thrive,” he said.
Omokri further claimed that such import-dependent business practices could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s economic progress.
“Moreover, they will undermine the impressive 4.3% GDP growth President Tinubu has achieved for Nigeria,” he stated, adding that “some of these guys even import toothpicks and toilet paper!”
The former presidential aide then challenged Peter Obi to demonstrate genuine patriotism by investing in local production.
“I challenge Peter Obi to move from importing to manufacturing, to show that he is fully committed to the economic growth of Nigeria,” Omokri declared.