The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, Monday evening said if he becomes thr president of Nigeria in 2023, he will face the nation’s security crisis head-on without any ado.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former Anambra State Governor said his handing the problem if insecurity across the country will be “decisive and immediate”.
While stressing that the nation’s security situation had become worrisome and disturbing, Mr. Obi said there is no doubt that the Federal Government should do more than it is doing at the moment.
Obi’s comment was a follow-up to the question by the anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, a few hours after the terrorists who attacked an Abuja/Kaduna train on March 28, 2022, released three victims out of the 62 hostages they abducted.
A disturbing video on Sunday had shown some of the victims being mercilessly flogged, with the terrorists threatening to sell some into slavery and kill others.
Reacting to the development and others issues raised during the interview, the Labour Party Presidential Flagbearer, said he would put several things in place to stem the tide of insecurity, most of which he cannot mention on air.
Speaking further, Obi was of the opinion that there needs to be an economic transformation for the security situation for there to be change leading to economic transformation.
“To improve the security situation in Nigeria, as President, I will ensure the economy works and more people are pulled out of poverty and idleness.
“The more you remove people out of poverty, the more you reduce criminality. It is critical and important, as long as the economy continues to head downward like we are seeing today, your criminality will be rising,” Obi stressed.
He also said that other measures needs to be put in place, including proper manpower and standard equipment which will increase productivity, educating the vast youth who have been denied education, among several issues.
When asked if he miraculously feel he would win the election as stated by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Obi skilfully chose not to address issues bothering on personality but only on issues and about moving Nigeria forward.
According to him, “What strengthens our faith is miracle. I am looking forward to the next miracle next year to complete my journey. If you go through the trajectory of my political career, you will see that it is full of miracles.
“I was the first person in Nigeria to recover governorship political seat when my oppomemt was declared winner through the court process. I am the first person to survive an impeachment process through the court process.
“I am the first person who set the agenda for staggered elections at the state level through my victory when INEC conducted election to unseat me whereas I had not spent up to four years in office.
“I am the first person in Nigeria to survive several legal and other impediments against the office of a state governor in the country.
“I am the first person in Anambra state to be re-elected as governor. I can go on and on and you see that all these are miracles.
“Therefore, I will not be surprised if I win the office of the president, if like they said, miraculously”.
Dragged further to comment on issues bothering o personality raised by both Atiku and Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the interview, Obi said, “Seun, I wish I will be spared all of this. I prefer to tell Nigerians what I will do in office than discuss personalities. Nigerians would like to know how I can transform the crippling economy more than discussing personalities; they would like to know how I intend to educate the youth and bring them out of poverty, and so on and so forth”.
