Obi Promises to Unite Nigeria and Address Insecurity by 2027

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has promised to unite Nigeria, tackle insecurity, and lift millions out of poverty if he wins the 2027 election.

Mr Obi made this promise on Tuesday during a town hall meeting with supporters in Jos, Plateau State. He shared his plans for the country, highlighting national unity, security, economic productivity, and accountable leadership as key areas for his administration.

The former Governor of Anambra State said Nigeria is becoming more divided along ethnic and religious lines. He stressed that restoring unity is crucial to solving the country’s political, economic, and security problems.

“Our number one commitment is to unite the Federal Republic of Nigeria because today we have no unity. We are divided along tribal and religious lines. That should not be. We are Nigerians,” he said.

Mr Obi pointed out that insecurity is another big issue needing immediate attention. He promised that Nigerians would be able to live and do their businesses without fear of attacks, kidnappings, and other violent crimes.

“I assure you that no mother will continue to cry over the loss of her children. No woman should experience the pain of losing her husband, and no father should suffer the agony of losing his wife,” he said.

He also promised to focus on bringing back internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes. He argued that the ongoing displacement of Nigerians shows a failure of the government to ensure their safety.

“If any Nigerian remains in an IDP camp, we have failed. Once one Nigerian is in an IDP camp, the entire Nigeria is in an IDP camp. People must return to their homes,” he said.

The NDC candidate vowed to improve the country’s security measures and ensure that kidnappers and criminals are caught and punished.

“Nobody will kidnap two children and disappear into the bush. If you kidnap children and go into the bush, you will not be alone there. We will come after you,” he declared.

Mr Obi explained that his choice to hold town hall meetings before the official campaign launch was to grasp the concerns of the people and create policies based on their real needs.

“When you want to serve, you must listen to the people. When we come for campaigns, we only talk, and we don’t listen to the people. We have decided that leadership must be demand-driven,” he said.

He recalled his visits to Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and other areas affected by violence in Plateau State, calling the security situation unacceptable.

The former governor said his presidential ambition comes from a desire to help victims of insecurity, especially families who have lost loved ones.

“If I have one person in an IDP camp, it means we are all in an IDP camp. I am competing because I want to know how we talk to that mother whose child was killed, that husband who lost a wife, and that woman who lost a husband. Who is going to listen to their cries?”

As for the 2027 election, Mr Obi urged Nigerians to take charge of protecting their votes. He insisted that voters should not rely solely on electoral bodies to ensure accountability.

He called on voters to stay at polling units after casting their votes to oversee the counting, recording, and transmission of results.

“In the next election, every voter is an agent. Don’t vote and go home. Take that day as the one day you are giving to Nigeria as a patriotic Nigerian,” he said.

“Your vote must be counted, recorded, and transmitted. Nobody should give you any excuse. It is your vote, and we want this election to be about the future of Nigeria,” he added.

On the economy, Mr Obi said his administration would change Nigeria from a consumption economy to a production-based one. He argued that increasing local production would create jobs, strengthen businesses, and reduce poverty.

He noted that insecurity had stopped farmers from accessing their lands and harmed businesses, including those in Plateau State.

“Our determination is to unite Nigeria, secure Nigeria, and pull people out of poverty. That is why we said we are going to move Nigeria from consumption to production,” he said.

“By increasing production, we will increase employment. Today, farmers cannot go to their farms because of insecurity. Companies operating in Plateau State have collapsed because of insecurity. When we unite Nigeria and secure it, we will create opportunities.”

Mr Obi also promised to make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to access funding. He said his experience in the financial industry has shown him the challenges entrepreneurs face in getting loans.

He stated that his administration would ensure that some of the credit in the banking sector goes to small businesses to help them grow and create jobs.

“I know what it means to access funding. I have been a director and chairman of a financial institution, and I understand how banks operate,” he said.

On the issue of corruption, the presidential candidate promised to improve accountability in public finance. He wants to make sure that government money is used for the benefit of citizens.

“I have managed public money, so when I say I am going to fight corruption, I know what I am talking about. I will fight corruption. Public money must be used for public good. Today, public money is wrongly being used, and that must change,” he said.

The NDC candidate also promised to invest more in education. He expressed concern over the estimated 18 million Nigerian children who are out of school.

He said his administration would build more classrooms, hire teachers, and improve public education quality to ensure more children can attend school.

“We want our children to go back to school. We want our schools to work. The more educated you are as a nation, the more developed you become,” he said.

On healthcare, Mr Obi called for more investment in primary healthcare centres. He noted that the lack of medical facilities in many areas has led to preventable deaths, especially among pregnant women and children.

He lamented that many Nigerians do not have access to good hospitals and often turn to religious institutions when they fall ill.

“The foundation of access to healthcare is primary healthcare. We must strengthen our primary healthcare centres and ensure that every community has access to quality medical services,” he said.

He also raised concerns about poverty, infant mortality, and the growing number of out-of-school children. He argued that Nigeria has the resources to solve these problems through smart investments in education, healthcare, and agriculture.

Mr Obi emphasized that the government must show care by prioritising vulnerable citizens, including the poor, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

“For a government to exist, it must care for the vulnerable. It must care for the poor and those living with disabilities. If we don’t care for the poor, we are not caring for ourselves,” he said.

He explained that the town hall meetings were set up for citizens to express their concerns and expectations directly to those seeking political office.

Earlier, during a visit to the Plateau State Traditional Council in Jos, Mr Obi said Nigeria cannot make real progress while citizens live in fear.

He called for competent, dedicated, and caring leadership that can respond effectively to the challenges facing the country.

“We want a government that has the capacity to do the job. We want a government that has compassion, a government that hears the cries of mothers who have lost their children,” he said.

“We want a government that is committed to the future of Nigeria. Commitment is very important, and that is what we are going to offer Nigerians.