2023: Obi vows to raise minimum wage, resuscitate Ajaokuta Steel

By Christiana Ekpa

Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has said the minimum wage presently earned by the workers in Nigeria is grossly insufficient, hence his government, when elected, will increase it.

Obi also said that one of the ways to curb unemployment is to resuscitate stillborn Ajaokuta Steel which he said will create massive job opportunities for Nigerians.

Labour Party Tuesday held its rally at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, Kogi State, that witnessed unprecedented crowd of supporters and Obidient members.

Peter Obi said, “We came here to tell you how we will save Nigeria from collapsing. Today in Kogi state you cannot travel freely within the state or from here to Abuja without fear. Our number one job is to secure Nigeria. We want to make Nigeria safe. We want to be able to unite Nigeria. Nigerians today are not living as a family.

“We want to bring the family back, we want to secure Nigeria. We want to show that in Nigeria, there is rule of law. You are not harassed.

“We want to make sure that we would remove Nigeria from consumption to production. We told you about minimum wage, we will ensure that the minimum wage that is as of today and those who are owed, we will work with that state and the local government to clear the outstanding.

“We would make sure that we work with them and when we stop consumption, we will start thinking about how to continue to increase the minimum wage. Because the  minimum wage today can no longer sustain anybody.

“For Nigeria to develop we need steel, and I was told that the machine is outdated and I said if it is outdated can’t we get new one. If it is outdated we would make sure we resuscitate them and we will partner with whoever that can do it and bring new ones so it can work and we will create jobs.

“Reject their money. We can only tell you what we can do. We are not talking to you through any spokesperson. We are talking to you direct,  when I become president of Nigeria,  I will come to Kogi  state,  tour every senatorial zone and I will bring prosperity to your state. We will ensure that the people return to the farms. The vast land in the state can feed Nigeria.”

Obi’s deputy, Datti Baba Ahmed also said that a new Nigeria is possible even as he called Nigerians to vote out the government in power.

He said, “Ninety nine days is for the thief but One day is from the owner. That one day is coming, that one special thing is going to happen to Nigeria.

“That one day that Nigeria will belong to the people is coming. For too long, clever politicians have been confusing brothers and sisters, they have been disuniting Nigerians. For too long, they have disallowed prosperity to Nigeria,  that is going to stop. We are here to change all these, we are here to stop them. If you earn income legitimately, Labour Party is your own. If you legitimately created wealth, Labour Party  is your own. If you truly earn what you have, Peter Obi is your own.

“Those two parties that have failed, there’s only one way for them, downwards. Join the party of the  people who has promise the people, who are telling you what they will do without excuses. The people who will not come and change what they said, we are here with you today.

“Follow the people that have not been confusing and deceiving you. That day, you will see Nigerians embracing and hugging each other.

“People like Peter Obi, when they will be sworn in and they will prove to you that they know how to create wealth. They know how to bring prosperity and they know how to make citizens live in peace and tranquillity. Keep it in mind. We are going to stop the killing and start the healing, we are going  to stop the stealing and the slide.”

National chairman of Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure also blamed leadership to failing situation in Nigeria.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that today our country is at a Crossroad, the fact that our country today is in disarray, the fact that the country is mismanaged. Today we are in a dilemma, the country is not working.

“From Abuja to Lokoja, you cannot go by roads, from Abuja to Kaduna, you cannot go by roads, insecurity has ravaged our country. People can no longer go to their farms, we are not even talking about the economy.”