By: PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi has declared that he is prepared for the job that would change Nigeria’s situation to a prosperous nation.
Obi who declared this at his Obi-Datti presidential rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday, also called on Nigerians to hold him responsible if he fails to deliver on his promises when elected the President at the 2023 general elections.
He also assured that a prosperous Nigeria remains possible, despite the level of rot in the country’s socio-political and economic life.
Obi, who is a former governor of Anambra State, blamed the current problems bedeviling Nigeria’s growth and prosperity on bad governance and fake promises by politicians.
He said that time for fake promises and maladministration has gone as Nigerians now desire reality, which he added, is possible with him as President if voted into office.
Obi maintained that apart from being the youngest presidential candidate among the major parties, he has remained connected to the youth and workers over the years.
“Between me and Datti, we have the greatest capacity and strength to work. In terms of education and exposure, we are the most qualified. On our own, we have also created wealth and strived to make it in life and we are prepared to secure and unite Nigeria,” he stressed.
He regretted that old politicians in the country have continued to divide Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines for their selfish purposes, adding that hunger and hardship have never recognised ethnicity and religions.
“Our first priority is to secure and unite Nigeria. Politicians are the ones creating division among Nigerians. North, South, East and West are one. There will be peace, there will be no more police harassment of the citizens. The policemen and other security agencies will be trained and retrained on image and relationships management.
“So I am coming to tell you that a new Nigeria is possible. I am coming to make Nigerians proud of their country again. I am coming to strengthen and fund education properly, strengthen the currency and increase manufacturing and production capacity.
“The next election is not by tribe or religion, because hunger does not know tribe or religion. The next election will be based on competence, capacity and capability.
“It will be based on who has the required mental and physical energy and capacity. It is going to be the turn of the people to elect their leaders,” Obi said.
The LP presidential hopeful who expressed reservations over the lack of Federal Government infrastructure in Akwa Ibom despite the huge contributions of the state to the nation’s economy, however, promised to address the low level of FG infrastructural interventions in the state, adding that he would turn the ongoing Ibom Deep Seaport project and Akwa Ibom into an export processing centre
“Since 1983 politicians have been coming here, they said amongst other promises, they are going to build a deep seaport, next year will make it 40 years. The Federal Government has not done anything in Akwa Ibom State. All they come here to do is to make fake promises.
“You cannot drive from here to Aba, you cannot drive from here to Umuahia. I don’t make fake promises. What we want is to make Nigeria work again,” he assured.
Speaking earlier, the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Julius Abure appreciated the people of Akwa Ibom State for coming out in mass to support Peter Obi as their presidential candidate, and advised them not to vote people who lack the capacity and Integrity to address the challenges of the country.
“Today, you have shown that Akwa Ibom State is for Labour Party. There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is in disarray, and is being mismanaged.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the challenges we have in the country, ranging from insecurity, hunger, poverty, and the mismanagement of the economy is as a result of failed leadership over the years,” Abure said.
Also, the state chairman of the party, Mr Lincoln Charles in his speech, described Peter Obi as the new face of hope, solution to Nigeria’s irredeemable problems and a divine gift from God to Nigerians.
“Truly, Peter Obi is coming to rewrite the wrong history of anomalies in leadership, incessant killings and kidnappings, collapsed economy and fragrant display of irresponsibility, which have brought untold hardship to Nigerians under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government,” he said.
He assured of the party’s landslide victory in the state, given the preparations on the ground by party structures and synergy with coalition groups.
Other state, national leaders and stakeholders of the party who spoke at the campaign, urged the citizens and residents to go get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to enable them vote Obi/Datti in the next presidential election.
