Tag: Peter Obi

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has declared that he will support the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, If the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) determines that the Southeast should have its turn in 2027 

Atiku, the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, said that he would support Obi wholeheartedly should his party select him. 

In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, the former Vice President said: “I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it.

“As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party.

“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him.”

The PDP leader added that the party’s members would determine his destiny in the general elections of 2027 and that a merger between the PDP and Labour Party is a possibility. 

He added that his recent encounter with Obi might point to a potential coalition before the general elections of 2027. 

Atiku said about the meeting: “It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest.”

About the possibility of the merger, he said: “Yes, it’s very much possible. We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible, and nothing can stop it if we wish to achieve that.”

He denied that the choice of presidential candidate might frustrate the merger discussion, saying: “That’s not true. That challenge will not arise. I can tell you that the choice of who will fly the flag of the party won’t be an issue.”

Clarifying his active part in politics, he said: “Yes, we can’t keep quiet and watch things go wrong. People are suffering and we are committed to making Nigeria a better place.

“It means you are not tired of politics of Nigeria? Not at all. I am still in active politics in Nigeria, at least, as long as God permits.

“My age doesn’t stop the young ones from testing their fate. Everybody, irrespective of age, is allowed to aspire to be anybody in the society, politically or otherwise.”

Regarding his 2027 Presidential ambition, the former Vice President said: “That would depend on the decision of my party. I can’t make any categorical statement on that. It’s the duty of the party to decide on the way to go in the next election.

“Until that time comes. Let’s just wait and see how it will turn out.

“It must not be interpreted like that. I must not be eyeing elections to have meetings with political friends and associates. Currently, we are practising democracy in this country which we fought for with our blood.”

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in last year’s general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has described himself as the highest beneficiary of Judiciary when there were incorruptible judges.

Obi said this during the Justice Anthony Aniagolu’s Memorial Lecture organised by the fam ily and hosted by the Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI) yesterday in Enugu.

Delivering a lecture, titled: The Judiciary and The Future of Nigeria, Obi said he won the governorship election in Anambra State while another candidate was declared winner.

Read Also; Nigeria gains additional maritime territory

The former governor said he approached the court for justice.

“I spent three years in court and it was given to me. After a few months, I was impeached, but the Judiciary restored me to power. After one year in office, they conducted another election and elected another person.

“But I went to Supreme Court where judges with respect for rule of law reinstated me to complete my tenure.

“All these things happened because there were incorruptible and independent judges,” he said.

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi has commended the contributions of workers to growth of the country.

Obi, a former Anambra Governor, in a message to workers on May Day, said their labour formed the foundation upon which the nation stood.

The statement reads: “As we come together to celebrate Workers’ Day, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and admiration for each and every one of you who continue to stand tall and steadfast in your commitment to building our great nation, even in the face of adversity and challenges.

“Today, as we honor the hard work, dedication, and resilience of workers across the country and beyond, I am reminded of the incredible strength and spirit that defines us as a people.

“Despite the countless obstacles and hurdles that may stand in our way, you, the backbone of our society, remain unwavering in your resolve to contribute to the growth and development of our beloved nation.

“From the bustling streets of Lagos to the serene villages of the North, from the bustling markets of Onitsha to the bustling ports of Port Harcourt, your labor forms the foundation upon which our nation stands.

“Whether you are toiling in the fields under the scorching sun or laboring in factories amidst the hum of machinery, your efforts are the lifeblood of our economy and the driving force behind our progress.

“But beyond the tangible contributions you daily make to our nation’s development, it is your unwavering patriotism, resilience, and determination that truly inspire us all.

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“In the face of economic hardships, political uncertainties, and social injustices, you continue to stand your ground, holding fast to your belief in a brighter future for our country.

‘I stand with you in solidarity, championing your cause and advocating for your rights. I recognize the sacrifices you make each and every day to provide for your families, support your communities, and contribute to the collective well-being of our nation.

“Today, as we celebrate Workers’ Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to one another and to the ideals of unity, justice, and equality for all. Let us take pride in our achievements, draw strength from our collective resilience, and rededicate ourselves to the noble cause of building a better, more prosperous Nigeria for generations to come.

“Lastly, I extend my heartfelt gratitude and admiration to each and every one of you for your unwavering dedication, patriotism, and sacrifice. Your laboir is the cornerstone of our nation’s prosperity, and your contributions will forever be cherished and celebrated.

“Truly, as our anthem reaffirms, the labour of you our perpetual heroes shall indeed never be in vain.”

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in last year’s general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has said the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is a misplaced priority.

The former Anambra State governor decried the decision of the Federal Government to go ahead with the “inessential project amid the spread of poverty and hunger in the land”.

In his X handle yesterday, Obi said: “Contrary to the dictates of reason and the necessity for compassion in the pursuit of public policy, the Federal Government has kicked off the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

“The outcry against this project has been overwhelming because it contrasts with the prevailing situation in the country at this time.

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“However, reports as of yesterday (Monday) indicate that demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project has commenced from the Lagos end.

“The sight of this insensitive demolition is, for me, heart-wrenching. As we watch this tragic theatre, livelihoods are being wiped away. Lifetime investments are being laid to waste while jobs are evaporating as the bulldozers roar. Habitations of the aged are being overturned by bulldozers of power.

“This hasty flag-off is in utter defiance of widespread outcry by the public, especially business and property owners, whose investments are directly affected by this project. No one knows the outcry that will herald this project as it progresses towards poor rural landscapes.

“Thousands of jobs are about to be wiped out while in one case investments above $200 million are about to be lost. Over 100,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector face clear and instant extinction. Over 80 small businesses are threatened with 4,000, mostly youth employees, imminently out of jobs. At a time when unemployment is ravaging the country, the government is embarking on a job-losing project.”

…says Labour Party crisis will be resolved amicably

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has said that his focus is on seeing Nigeria work and not on the 2027 general election.

The former Anambra state governor said this in a statement by the spokesperson for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said: “Only God can tell who can run for election in the future, my interest now is the poor and how to see Nigeria work.”

Obi said the crisis rocking the party would be resolved amicably as they are not fundamental and cannot be handled

“What is happening in the Labour Party is child’s play compared to what is going on in APC and PDP,” he added.

He urged rich Nigerians to do more for the poor in the society in the area of provision of water and education.

Obi said 70 per cent of the wealth of Nigeria was in the hands of about one percent of Nigerians and noted that if one cent of the population of about 200,000 rich Nigerians can deploy their resources for the basic needs of the poor in our midst, the situation will not be as deplorable.

He charged governments at all levels to ensure that resource deployment was aimed at improving the living standards of the poor and pulling them out of poverty.

Obi, who announced the completion of the construction of ten boreholes in some states of the North for a short-term water supply for the poor said, if 200,000 rich Nigerians join him to do the same in the area of their choice, it would go a long way to solve the water needs of the poor.

Speaking on education, Obi said that the potential he found out mingling with Almajiris in the Quranic schools in the north moved him to tears how brilliant the children are but needed adequate support to develop them well to grow to be catalysts of development.

He said: “I am carrying out a campaign to make the rich in our midst do more in providing water to our rural poor and helping to pull the out-of-school children off the streets for proper development.

“This is the time to cut waste, our larger population can’t be suffering conspicuous lack of basic needs like water and we live lavish lifestyles in their midst, our crisis of insecurity and other challenges derives from poverty and it’s our responsibility to pull people out of poverty through good education.”

On what he would do differently as President following his criticism of the coastal road, the LP flag bearer said that under his watch as President, there would be no road until all the existing roadwork in the country are put in order.

Read Also: Peter Obi and I don’t share LP’s ideologies – Okupe

He said: “I cannot embark on a new road when we can’t connect our states and cities in all the geopolitical zones because of bad roads. I will first fix the roads and move the economy.”

Responding to a question that he did not build any new school when he was Governor of Anambra state, Obi said those who said that failed to avail themselves of his manifesto.

He said that when he came to Anambra state, education was in shambles, schools were closed and the state was number 26 in the country but by the time he left, Anambra was number one in the state.

“I improved the quality, physical and mental well-being of the people, schools, had the basic things they needed and the people shone like stars and that was my manifesto. Building new schools when the old ones are moribund is just like building coastal lines when internal roads are impassable.” he added

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) during the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has explained why he did not construct a single new school during his tenure as governor of Anambra state.

The Nation reported that social media influencer, Reno Omokri, questioned Obi’s administration, challenging the former Anambra state governor and his followers to present a single school he instituted in his eight years as governor.

Reno promised a reward of 10,000 dollars to anyone who could show a school built by Obi.

In his reaction, Obi stated during a press conference on Wednesday, April 24, in Abuja that individuals who made such claims had not taken advantage of his manifesto.

Read Also: Peter Obi and I don’t share LP’s ideologies – Okupe

He said that Anambra state was ranked 26th in the nation when he arrived, with shuttered schools and a broken educational system, saying that by the time he departed, Anambra had risen to the top.

He said: “I improved the quality, physical and mental well-being of the people, schools, had the basic things they needed and the people shone like stars and that was my manifesto.

“Building new schools when the old ones are moribund is just like building coastal lines when internal roads are impassable.”

The spokesperson for Mr Peter Obi, Dr Yunusa Tanko, has debunked allegations that the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), is indulging in religious politics.

Tanko said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Onitsha, Anambra.

According to Tanko, “the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) wishes to alert the public of a fresh orchestrated design to blackmail the 2023 labour party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by linking him to frivolous, malicious and unsubstantiated allegations of indulging in religious politics.

“We are aware that some persons operating under the guise of civil society, and non-governmental organizations, but acting at the behest of some powerful political interests, have been deployed to petition and accuse Obi of playing religious politics.

“The aim is to malign Mr Obi’s purely altruistic motives in supporting underprivileged Nigerians of all faiths. The ploy is to erroneously claim that he goes to religious places to carry out political campaigns off-season.

“We should ordinarily ignore such mischievous ploys as they are only intended to distract attention from Mr Obi’s patriotic and compassionate position,” he said.

He noted “for the avoidance of doubt and the protection of the gullible in their midst, it has become imperative to restate the truth and the facts.”

He stressed that Obi understands fully the constitutional dictates of separation of church/mosque and state and that Nigeria is an undisputed secular state.

Read Also: Peter Obi, Otti, Ume absent as LP re-elects Abure National chair

He further said that his primary concern in and out of public office has always been to pursue the welfare of the underprivileged in the society, whom he believes, should have a better life given the abundant human and natural resources bestowed on this country by God.

“What remains an undisputed fact, is that Peter Obi’s charity work predates politics and he would never be intimidated to change this personal disposition, which he believes is an assignment for him from his creator.

“We, therefore, urge the public to ignore any insinuations of co-mingling politics with religion; and see them as a grand design to limit Mr. Obi’s freedom of movement and citizenship welfare action,” he added.

(NAN)

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP) Peter Obi was absent at the National Convention of the party at Nnewi in Anambra State on Wednesday. 

 Abia Governor Alex Otti also did not attend the convention. He was represented by his Deputy Ikechukwu Emetu at the event which Senator Victor Ume also did not attend

The absence of these leaders did not stop the convention from holding as the 387 delegates from the 36 States and Abuja peacefully attended the convention with delegates accredited as early as 10 am amid tight security. 

Read Also: Peter Obi sent me N250,000 for my mother’s funeral in 2011 – Kanayo O. Kanayo

The Convention returned Abure as the National Chairman by a voice vote while  Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim was returned as National Secretary. 

Others returned are: Deputy National Chairman Mr. Clement Ojukwu; Deputy National Chairman Dr. Ayo Olunrufemi;  

National Vice Chairman North Central  Abraham Idoko; National Vice Chairman South East  Ceekay Igara; National Vice Chairman South South  Anthony C. Ezeagwu; Deputy National Secretary  Rotimi Kehinde Adekunle; Deputy National Secretary  Innocent Okeke; National Treasurer  Mrs Ngozi Doga; National Financial Secretary  Dayo Ekong; National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ifoh Obiora; National Organising Secretary Comrade Yahuza Ahmed; National Legal Adviser  Barr. Kehinde Edun; National Women leader Mrs Dudu Manuga; National Youth Leader Prince Kennedy Ihanotu; Assistant National Youth Leader North West Abdulrahman Chindo; Assistant National Youth Leader South South  Barry Auotu. 

In his acceptance,  Abure promised to make the party vibrant opposition and assured members of purposeful leadership.