The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has promised to deploy Nigeria’s resources to unlock its greatness if voted to power in the 2023 general election.
He, nonetheless, regretted that Nigeria has slipped into terrains that qualify it as a failed State.
Obi argued that when a country is no longer in control of its economy and security, it is deemed a failed State.
The LP candidate promised to make positive changes, if elected President.
Obi spoke during an interactive session organised by the Arewa Joint Committee comprising Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), Jamiyyar Matan Arewa (JMA), Arewa House (Centre for Historical Development and Research) and Arewa Research Development Project (ARDP).
He said Nigeria does not lack ideas but institutional strength and political will to make genuine change that would better the lives of average Nigerians.
The LP candidate promised to lift Nigeria from a consuming nation to a producing country.
Obi said insecurity would become history under his watch, promising to create jobs for youths, regretting that they have become tools for perpetrating social vices.
According to him, the insecurity ravaging the country through banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, among others, will go down when youths have lucrative jobs to engage their time.
The LP candidate said security agencies would be well equipped to handle all forms of insecurity in the land.
He said: “We want to bring a transformative government. The greatest asset of Nigeria is in the North. The greatest asset of Nigeria is the vast uncultivated land in the North. But this land has been taken over by bandits. We are going to unlock Nigeria.
“We will bring Nigeria back to life. All banks will be shareholders in the Bank of Agriculture where our farmers can directly assess loans.”
He also promised to eradicate poverty in Nigeria, saying: “When you pull people out of poverty, the rate of crime will reduce.
“Our past is gone. We are going to face the future. Fighting corruption is easy when one is not stealing. Our money is being stolen; subsidy is organised crime.
“I want to give Nigerians hope. My running mate and I will be in charge. They will not find us wanting. We have the physical strength. I will dialogue with every agitator because it will make us a better and united Nigeria,” Obi said.