- Why I won’t campaign for Obi, says Obasanjo
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi assured the electorate yesterday that Nigeria will be secure, prosperous and united if he is given a chance to govern the country.
Obi made the assertion at the LP presidential rally at the Michael Okpara Square in Enugu said he will lead a country that will be the pride of every Nigerian. The LP presidential candidate said it was time to remove from the country a corrupt structure that has given it a bad name, enthroned hunger, starvation, bad governance, poverty and loss of confidence and the mad rush for greener pastures.
He said that his desire was to enthrone a new order that would serve the interest of Nigerians.
Obi, who had addressed students and stakeholders at the Nsukka and Enugu campuses of the University of Nigeria, insisted that the Nigeria that will be the pride of the citizenry was possible with the support of the people
Flanked by his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and Obi’s his wife, Margaret, among others, he said: “We are tired of fake promises. We have more people living in poverty in Nigeria than in India and China combined. We cannot continue this way. We cannot continue with the level of stealing, insecurity and suffering in the land. I and Datti are prepared to secure and unite Nigeria.
“We will provide security with the police serving with a human face. No more police harassment. We will recruit more people at all levels of security agencies and provide them with insurance to enable them to do their work. We will create jobs and maintain rule of law.
“We will ensure that our people are free to move about and provide the enabling environment for trade and commerce to thrive. Nigeria will bloom again.”
Turning to the youths, Obi told them it was their turn to be proud of the country and that they would not have reasons to run away from the country should he be voted to power.
He said he left London in 2006 and had no dual citizenship and would remain in Nigeria to contribute to the development and growth of the country.
Promising to serve with the best of intentions, he said that he was running in the election because he had the requisite knowledge, ability, character and experience to lead, stressing that the job required someone with energy.
He called on the people to ensure they picked their voters card and vote in the election, saying that doing so would help move the country forward.
Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo explained why he won’t join Obi’s campaign train at a virtual engagement organised by Africa Leadership Group yesterday. Obasanjo pledged his support for Obi in his New Year message to Nigerians entitled, “My Appeal to All Nigerians Particularly Young Nigerians”
Speaking on why he won’t join Obi’s campaign train, Obasanjo noted that he has done his best with writing his endorsement plainly. He said: “I am not in campaign train. I’ve used the benefit of my experience, and I’ve put it plainly. I do not belong to any political party. I will not join any campaign train. I’ve said what is best for the country.”
The former president also outlined the key issues that will confront the next president and which he must address swiftly immediately he assumes office. He said key issues such as the country’s security challenges including banditry, and kidnapping must be tackled.
Obasanjo who spoke on leadership and nation-building added that the country must move beyond think-tank to do-tank He said the country is at a “critical moment” and needs a leader who is critically and clinically sound with the right character, skills, attitude and attributes to turn things around.
