Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi yesterday joined the 2023 presidential race with a promise to lift Nigeria from the present precarious situation since he has been a good economic manager.
Obi declared his intention to vie for the office of the president on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Anambra State Government House during a meeting with traditional rulers of the state.
Obi, vice-presidential candidate on the platform of the party in 2019, called on the monarchs to pray for and support him.
“I am talking to the traditional rulers, because if somebody begins any journey, he must first tell his fathers. I am telling you as my fathers that I am coming out to contest the position of the President of Nigeria.
“If I am voted as the president, I will secure Nigeria, create jobs for the teeming youths of the country and pull Nigeria out of poverty. Everything I have done regarding resources, I have managed them proudly. I want to move this country forward. I’m a Nigerian; I believe in one united Nigeria, and I want it secured.
“I am not just aspiring for political position but to serve and move the country forward. I have all it takes to be president and move the country forward. You know me and you know how Nigeria is today. In 2019, I went with Atiku as the vice presidential candidate but today I want to come out on my own.
“I just came to seek your blessing as traditional rulers of the state. I am here to tell you as my own fathers that, I am aspiring for the president of Nigeria,” he said.
Obi said after careful studies of Nigeria, he discovered that Nigeria is at the lowest ebb and needed somebody like him to move it forward.
He said he strongly believe in one united Nigeria, stressing that he was in the race to move Nigeria forward.
Obi said if elected, he would deploy the resources of Nigeria for optimal productivity and create jobs for teeming youths.
“My job here is simple. “I believe that the government I will lead, will reunite Nigeria, we need unity and peace for the progress of Nigeria; if I have the opportunity, I will lead well, secure Nigeria, we will attract local and foreign investment that will move Nigeria forward.
“The government I will lead will manage Nigeria resources effectively and efficiently for production; my government will invest in critical areas for development including, education, health and pulling people out of poverty,” he said.
He added: “I believe in Nigeria; I want to have a secure Borno State, a secure Sokoto State, a secure Onitsha, I want people in Ibadan to see a country that is growing and I want people in Minna to celebrate Nigeria.
“We did it in Anambra, there is no significant difference between Anambra and Nigeria, what the country needs is people with capacity, competence and willingness to manage resources effectively.”
Responding, the traditional ruler of Umueri, Anambra east local government area, Igwe Bennett Chukwuemeka, said they were happy that Obi had ended the anxiousness of many by declaring his intention.
Chukwuemeka said the Anambra traditional rulers’ council would extend the drive to their contemporaries in the southeast and other parts of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, former governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said Obi, an already accomplished corporate leader and successful businessman, only went into politics to make the society better.
He stated this when Obi paid him courtesy visit in Minna.
He said the presidential contestant who is passionate about societal development, joined politics and became a governor so as to make positive impacts in the society.
He said Obi is someone whose track record of success in governance showed how committed he was to nation building.
Aliyu therefore commended members of the party for their unity and for pursuing the democratic ideals for which a society should be known, adding that the whole essence of governance was service to the people.
He, however, lamented the state of poor governance in the country as manifested in high level of insecurity, high cost of living, high inflation, high unemployment rate, and so on.
But he assured that the PDP would rescue Nigeria from further collapse and transform the nation, when given power in 2023.
In his remarks, chairman of the PDP in Niger State, Mr. Tanko Beji, wished Obi well in his political journey and reassured him of their commitment to ensuring that the party wins the 2023 elections both at the state and federal levels.
Responding, Obi noted that Niger State contributes immensely to Nigeria’s development and would do more if supported by the government.
“Niger State has a landmass of 76km2, twice the size of Netherlands, which has 33,500km2. Their income from their agricultural exports is over $100 billion. Government can support small scale farmers in Niger State to produce more.
“The rice farmers at Baddegi area, Mambe and Doko axis, Gbanchitagi and Kusotachi axis can be empowered by the government to be more productive. Same goes for the yam farmers at Shiroro, Munya and Kuta areas of Niger State. All these offer us great opportunity for development of the nation,” he added.
