Despite the obvious Presidency and APC intrigues aimed at weakening the opposition to the point of their not being able to present a credible challenge to President Bola Tinubu in 2027, the Labour Party (LP) standard bearer in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, has assured his numerous supporters at home and abroad that he will be on the 2027 presidential ballot.
And reechoing his declaration that he is not seeking power for the heck of it but that he is only desperate to turn Nigeria around using the power and authority of the Presidency, the former two-term Governor of Anambra State assured all power brokers and constituencies that were he to be elected president in 2027, he would be willing to do one term in office.
Clarifying issues around the politics of the much-talked about coalition of opposition forces, Obi denied discussing ‘joint tickets’ matters with anyone, not even with the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar with whom he had been rumoured to be rooting for a joint presidential ticket.
“I have not joined in any form of discussion on joint tickets, including with Atiku,” he said in an X post on Sunday, adding, however, that were there to be such a discussion and an agreement reached, he would gladly comply with the terms of such an agreement.
“If there is any form of agreement that will restrict me to four years in office, I will comply with the agreement and be ready to leave office by 28th May, 2031,” he declared.
Answering questions from his numerous supporters on his X in the Sunday outing, he acknowledged being involved in coalition talks because of his desire to rescue Nigeria from the drift by aligning with all patriotic Nigerians.
“If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue, Zamfara, how to revive our economy, how to make our industries productive, how to put food on the tables of Nigerians…count me out. Nigeria is currently at war. We need to do something about it,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to see the need to rescue this country with him.
“I will bring stability in Nigeria within two years in office. Leaders of Nigeria should sit down in Nigeria and fix Nigeria,” he said.
On the situation in the Labour Party (LP), Obi said the leadership is working around the clock to get INEC to endorse the Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party based on the Supreme Court ruling.
On the rotation of the Presidency between the North and the South, Obi said, “I believe in the rotation of government between North and South. I implemented it in Anambra as a Governor.”
Answering questions on President Tinubu’s visit to St Lucia Obi agonized: “In two years, Tinubu has not spent one night in any state in Nigeria apart from Lagos, yet he is going to spend eights nights in St Lucia, a place smaller than Ajegunle.”
“St Lucia is about the size of the 10th largest city in Nigeria, (which is) Ilorin. President Tinubu has never slept a night in any State of Nigeria outside Lagos since the assumption of office in 2023. (And now) PBAT to stay in St Lucia for 10 days!”
On his preparation for the forthcoming election, the former LP flag-bearer declared: “We will do things differently in 2027. We will follow a non-violent approach and insist that the right thing be done before the result announcement in Abuja. Our votes in 2027 will count, and we will ensure they count.”
“Three things to follow up within the first 100 days… prioritise security, education and poverty eradication; cut costs and shun corruption. My family will not be involved in corruption. Funds to be channelled into key critical sectors,” he reiterated.
“My Presidency will ensure there is a strong opposition in party politics. There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge.
“Imagine in this country, people are dying in Benue, Borno, [and other parts of the country], and our leaders are commissioning bus-stops and holidaying.
“To bring order in governance, I will prioritise security, education and pulling people out of poverty. To do this is by cutting the cost of governance and fighting corruption from day one.
“My past speaks loudly for me. Wherever there was an issue in Anambra State, I was there physically. Anybody who wants to serve should be ready to put even their life on the line for the lives of Nigerians.
“Nobody abroad takes you seriously if you don’t have a stable government.”
