Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, (LP), Dr Peter Obi, has said that a new Nigeria is possible where every citizen would be proud to belong and feel secured, if he is elected president come February 25, 2023.
Addressing the flag-off of his presidential campaign in the North at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna on Wednesday, the presidential hopeful said he regretted the present situation Nigerians found themselves, where they are ashamed to identify themselves as Nigerians.
According to him, this is because of the many challenges the country is facing.
“Kaduna was the capital of Northern Nigeria where every Nigerian was proud to belong, hence we started the campaign here in Kaduna. We are about to bring back that Nigeria where everybody will be happy to belong.
“Kaduna state represented productivity in the North. It represented what was good in Nigeria. And that is what we want to bring back. We are tired of hearing stories. Kaduna state hosts the best military formations in the country, it is supposed to be more secured than any part of the country, but there are so many security challenges in the state. We will secure and unite Nigeria. Security will come back again,” he said.
He noted that insecurity in the country was not because the bandits were more formidable than the government, but because of bad and ineffective leadership to take control and change of the situation.
“That is why the bandits are everywhere and operating almost freely, killing and causing unimaginable destruction of valuables. We will restructure the security architecture. Security personnel will be well taken care of. We will ensure their lives are taken care of so that their families are taken care of in the event of death,” he said.
“Datti and I will change this country from consumption to production because of the high prices of things. All the vast lands in the North will be centres of agriculture. Kaduna state again will become a processing centre. The Bank of Agriculture will finance food production in Nigeria and all the support groups, youth, women and all Nigerians, their labour for the party will not go in vain.
“In the coming elections, nobody should tell one another about tribe, religion or section, things are not sold in Nigeria based on religion, tribe or section, but all are suffering from the bad leadership of the country,” Obi said.
His running mate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, in his remarks said those looking for peace, unity in Nigeria should cast their votes in the coming elections for LP for the emergence of a new Nigeria.
“Nigeria has never gotten the calibre of presidential candidates as it is presently. Kaduna is the centre of good things in the country and I hope the people of the state will come out en masse to change the narratives of this country through their votes by electing Labour Party to power for the good of every Nigerian.
“We are people that say and do exactly what we promised to do. We are serious in ensuring the betterment of Nigeria and ensure equality in all aspects of life for all Nigerians. We promise to wipe away the tears of the common man and give them a sense of belonging. It is only Peter Obi that is saying that Nigerians should vote for him because of his credibility,” Datti said.
