By Jude Opara, Abuja
The candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi has again stated that he is not interested in any coalition just for the purpose of clinching power in the 2027 general election.
Obi further insisted that over time coalition in Nigerian politics has been only for power grabbing, even as he stressed that he cannot imagine why politicians abandon the country to collapse in desperation for grabbing political power.
The former Governor of Anambra state spoke in Abuja yesterday at a National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria under the theme; Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathways to Good Governance and Political Integrity.
Obi also regretted that democracy has completely collapsed in the country, arguing that the effects of the alleged collapse could be seen in Nigeria’s daily living and the future of the children.
He urged Nigerians to get involved in strengthening democracy.
“We have seen that whatever happened in democracy affects the citizens. It affects their daily living and the future of their children. So, we must all now get involved to make it because we know that it’s not working in Nigeria.”
Speaking on the proposed coalition, the presidential hopeful said: “For me, what is important is about the country. We must talk about the future of Nigeria. We abandoned the country and all we talk about now is power grabbing.
“I am not interested in any coalition for the purpose of taking power. It is about discussing Nigeria, how we care about securing Nigeria, care about the common people in the country and their education. That is the most important thing in Nigeria for now.
“The conversation has been on for a long time. It is now time for us to take action because you can see where it brought us to. We now live in an insecure country. We now live in a country that is everyday breeding poverty. People are suffering. So many people don’t know where the next meal will come from,” he lamented.
Obi equally criticized the increasing cases of monetisation of politics, which he insisted could destroy the country if unchecked.
“That is what we need to remove, because what you are doing is that you are encouraging stealing of public money. Because if I steal it and use it to win election, then I get all the power and everything, including immunity not to be prosecuted. So we must stop it. That is what is driving the stealing”.
Reacting to the Ghanaian experience where the former Vice President and candidate of the then ruling party conceded defeat, Obi said it is about the will of the people and that when the will of the people is respected, everybody will accept the outcome of an election because the will of the people is critical.“ They all gave assurances upon assurances to get the N9billion proposal reviewed upward but surprised that up toll now , that I’m seated before this joint committee , nothing of such , has been done “, he said .
Irked by the Minister’s lamentation , a member of the committee , Hon Kama Nkemkanma from Delta State , alleged that the 2025 budget is a budget of sabotage because critical sectors, needed to drive the economy are grossly underfunded .
“ The affected Ministers and the DG Budget office , must appear before this joint committee as resolved “, he said .
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