What are we to expect from President Peter Obi?
The race for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria is one of the hottest the country has experienced, and chief among them is the title of this article. Because, for the first time since the advent of democracy, the presidential title race is not of the either or variety.
Nope. This time around, the presidential race is like a buffet, boasting a lineup of multiple candidates. And the major flagbearers are:
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Council (APC)
- Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
- Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP)
- Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria’s People Party (NNPP)
What also makes the elections more scintillating is the race itself. In previous elections, the options were limited to either PDP or APC (or its other variant like AC, the Action Congress). Other parties were seen as mere formalities. For the first time, however, the differential parties have apparently juiced up on Monster mixed with orijin and plenty Bullet, since they are putting up one hell of a fight.
This brings us to the last interesting fact about the election; the majority of Nigerians are flocking towards a differential. This means that, for the first time since 1999, there is the possibility of a president who is not from the PDP or APC.
This person is Peter Obi.
SEE: Peter Obi Networth and Biography (Everything You Should Know)
Brief History of Peter Obi
An indigene of Anambra state, Peter Gregory Obi is no stranger to fighting uphill battles. A former governor of Anambra state, the state’s House of Assembly impeached him from office in 2006. Mike Balonwu, who led the accusing party, accused him of gross misconduct.
However, Peter Obi later revealed that the real reason for the conspiracy was his refusal to inflate the state budget. He successfully challenged the impeachment and the Nigerian Supreme Court reinstated him in February 2007.
During the 2007 Anambra State gubernatorial election, he was removed, but the judiciary again intervened and ruled for him to complete a full four-year term. After that, he ran again in 2010 and was re-elected to a second term that ended in 2014.
Upon leaving office, Peter Obi decamped to the PDP, and in 2019, ran as the vice presidential nominee in the presidential election alongside Atiku Abubakar. However, both lost to the incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari and vice president Yemi Osinbajo.
In 2022, Obi decided to run for president himself, first under the PDP before defecting to the Labour Party in May 2022. His presidential campaign has enjoyed a lot of popularity and spread like wildfire among many Nigerians, mostly the youths, who have nicknamed themselves “Obidients”.
ALSO READ: President Peter Obi and his massive ‘Obidient’ movement
What to expect from President Peter Obi
As mandated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all presidential candidates are expected to release campaign manifestos. This is a public declaration of policy and aims to provide an insight into what governance under them will look like.
Peter Obi released his manifesto on November 3, 2022, titled “Our Pact with Nigerians: Creating a New Nigeria”. According to the 62-page long document, Obi’s campaign anchors on seven thematic areas:
- Security
- Production
- Institutional reforms
- Industrial revolution
- Infrastructural development
- Human capital development, and
- A robust foreign policy
SEE: 2023 elections: Pastor Paul Enenche blast men of God sitting on the fence, endorses Peter Obi
Here are the key talking points:
Law and Order
Embark on comprehensive legal and institutional reforms, and practicable restructuring measures. Ensure the enthronement of the rule of law to decisively fight and tackle all forms of corruption.
Capital development
Move Nigeria from consumption to production. Prioritize Human Capital Development through robust investments in STEM education, health, and infrastructural development. He also placed emphasis on wealth creation, distribution, and sustainable development, and promised to improve access to finance, particularly to MSMEs, youths, and women, to significantly reduce unemployment and insecurity.
ALSO READ: Obasanjo ‘endorses’ Peter Obi, Says “My job is done” (watch video)
Diversity and Inclusion
Peter Obi promises to ensure that, in policy and practice, governance will become more inclusive, cost-effective, transformative, and less transactional. In his words, there will be no more sharing of the national wealth by a few.
He also promised to leverage diversity to give women and youths, the aged and even persons with disabilities an unfettered voice in governance, as well as a renewed sense of patriotism and faith in Nigeria. According to him, a new Nigeria is still possible.
“Our vision is a secure, united, and prosperous Nigeria that works for everyone and that realizes the hope of black people of the world as a city on the hill. We will run a government of national unity, bringing together for the task at hand, all competent, honest, and diligent Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations. The new Nigeria we build will be ‘one nation, bound in freedom, peace and unity’ where ‘peace and justice shall reign’.”
SEE: FACT CHECK: Peter Obi Made Multiple False Claims At Economic Summit Dialogue
Equality for all
Nigeria has long since been plagued with an epidemic of the law favoring the wealthy few. However, Obi has expressed confidence that “the new Nigeria that we will build is a society where political power will no longer be used to serve the interest of the ruling class and subject the people to chronic poverty and deprivation”.
READ: President Atiku Abubakar: First 100 Days in Office (2023 Predicted)
President Peter Obi: In conclusion
According to Obi, the dream of a secure, united and prosperous Nigeria has long been betrayed by those who lack the character and competence to achieve the dream.
However, he noted that at present, a new generation of Nigerian leadership has emerged. A tested and tried, honest and dedicated generation, united in a common mission to reverse the current ugly trend of endemic poverty, and insecurity, and create a better future for every Nigerian.
SEE: PETER OBI CAN’T FIX NIGERIA’S SECURITY PROBLEMS – OSHIOMOLE
Specifically, Obi and his vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, pledged to “secure and unite our dear nation, and manage our diversity such that no one is left behind in Nigeria”.
