By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The Presidential candidate of Labour Party LP (LP), Peter Obi yesterday cautioned politicians that God is annoyed with them over how they have turned to entitlement, the grace He gave to them to govern and care for His people.
Speaking during an interactive programme with Human Right Radio in Abuja, Obi declared to political leaders, including those already serving and aspiring to serve, that the grace period offered to them by God to turn a new leaf is over, and the time for judgement is at hand.
“Nigerian leaders have not shown enough compassion on the people and their plights by neglecting the people they govern. They are annoying God by turning His Grace into entitlement”, he said during the programme.
Further, Obi said that democracy makes the ordinary people poor, noting that the poor and the disadvantaged are the true owners of the country.
The LP presidential candidate, who was a Special Guest at the Human Rights Radio in Abuja called Brekete Radio, said that the ordinary people have a critical role to play in the selection process of who governs the country, a task which he said they can only perform through their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs).
The LP flag bearer said that he is seeking to be hired by the owners of Nigeria, the ordinary downtrodden, because he wants to build a new Nigeria where the populace are secured and productive.
Obi, who took time to explain to the listeners at home and those in the studio why he is aspiring to be hired for the job of Nigeria President, said that applicants’ antecedents should be put into consideration while interviewing and taking decisions to employ them.
The former Governor of Anambra state who took time to explain his past in public and private sectors, said having done it well in the past, he is well equipped to do better, being the most qualified of all the candidates.
On his being labeled a stingy man, Obi said it is not true, pointing out that what is being seen as and talked about his being stingy is his fiscal discipline in the management of public funds, hence those who lose out in the blockage of waste see it as being stingy.
He used various examples to illustrate his frugality to public funds, pointing out that corrupt people fight back when you block them by tagging you stingy.
According to him, saving money is not in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, but said his Presidency will change the sharing mentality of politicians to a saving and production mentality.
On corruption, Obi said that if elected, he will draw the line and face the future as he would not close shop to chase thieves, although he noted that the looters would not be allowed to go free.
He described nepotism as a huge corruption, especially when leaders pick unqualified persons who may be of the same family with him and allocate land and contract papers to them.
Obi however disagreed with the notion that when people assume office as President or Governor, the office changes them, rather he said that money and power expose the true character of a person.
The candidate said that North is the new Nigeria gold and oil, but requires only a person who knows like him and his Vice to unlock it.
He said “The poverty in the country can only be tackled through production and it is only through it that crimes and criminalities can be reduced. Those bandits are factory workers who are doing nothing.”
On his position on Biafra, whether he has plans of restoring it if elected, Obi declared unequivocally that the Biafra war ended 52 years ago and that is the position.
He said “If the President is to be given by whose turn it is, as an Igbo it’s my turn but I am in the race as a Nigerian wishing to be hired based on my track record, competence and capacity.”
