BY RITA NWORIE,
ABAKALIKI
The 2027 Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress Party, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring that the President lacks the competence and energy required to govern Nigeria and should step aside.
Obi made the remarks during a town hall meeting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, where he urged Nigerians to prioritise competence, capacity and leadership qualities over ethnic and regional considerations in choosing the country’s next president.
Addressing the gathering, the former Anambra State governor cautioned against attempts to divide the South-East, insisting that his presidential ambition should not be supported merely because he is Igbo or comes from the region.
“Let nobody divide the South-East. I don’t want the people of Ebonyi to vote for me because I am from the South-East. I don’t want you to vote for me because I am an Igbo person,” Obi said.
He added: “My dear people, I want you to vote for me because I am qualified to be the President of this country. I want you to vote for me because I am the leading candidate.”
The former governor also challenged President Tinubu to visit Abakaliki and other parts of the country to explain his administration’s achievements over the past three years, particularly the utilisation of funds borrowed by the Federal Government.
“I want President Tinubu to come to Abakaliki to tell the people what he has done in the past three years. I want him to come to Abakaliki to tell you what he used the money he has been borrowing to do,” he said.
Obi further criticised Tinubu’s foreign trips, claiming that the President had spent more than 260 days outside Nigeria but could not dedicate up to 36 days to touring the country and explaining his administration’s performance to citizens. He argued that the country needed a more energetic and accountable leader.
Outlining his proposed priorities, Obi said his administration would declare emergencies in key sectors, beginning with national unity and security. He pledged to bridge ethnic divisions, ensure fairness in public appointments through the federal character principle and strengthen security agencies to protect lives and property.
On insecurity, Obi promised decisive action against kidnappers and other criminal elements, particularly those targeting schoolchildren. “If I am President of this country, kids come to school and somebody takes them into the bush, we will be in the bush with such person. They will not be there alone; we will be there with those kids,” he declared, promising to adequately equip security agencies.
He also pledged to wage an unprecedented war against corruption, declaring that public funds must be used for the benefit of citizens and that anyone found guilty of stealing public money would face the law, regardless of their position. Obi further promised to declare emergencies in education, agriculture and healthcare, citing Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis, hunger and the need for accessible primary healthcare facilities in every political ward.
On education, he said the country must urgently reduce the number of out-of-school children, which he put at more than 18 million. He also called for renewed investment in agriculture, urging farmers to return to their farms, increase food production and support exports, while promising functional healthcare facilities in every political ward.
