Peter Obi: Nigeria continues to face almost insurmountable challenges. Its people are dogged by abject poverty, widespread corruption and inequality, discrimination against women and minorities, failing healthcare, education and housing systems as well as fractured relationships between its various ethnicities and religious groups.
The result is a country in desperate need of new leadership with fresh ideas and the strength of character to implement them. This blog post looks at why Peter Obi would be the perfect president for Nigeria.
When I look at who is running for the presidency, I feel much hope. I see a candidate (Peter Obi) that can bring this country together and tackle all the issues we are facing as one nation.
On the contrary, it appears the other candidate’s stance and beliefs will only get us more divided as a people.
When the announcement came that Peter Obi is running for president, something ignited in me. This man has intrinsic value about him; he has a presence about him that is remarkable.
Relying heavily on the Internet, the Peter Obi campaign has mobilized “Obidient Movement”, a massive grassroots organization of volunteers and donors organizing for the purpose of taking back their country initiatives.
Drawing on his online base of supporters, Peter Obi initially surprised political pundits by matching the two prominent candidate from the two major political party to became the co-frontrunner in the race to Aso Rock.
His campaign is powered by ‘hope’ in the lead up to the Presidential election which is considered as nothing less than spectacular. His anticipated victory will signal a cultural and political shift in Nigeria.
He also has had a tremendous life experiences as a wealthy businessman, chairman of a banks, ex-governor of Anambra state with frugal reputation and efficiency in managing public funds. There’s something special about this man – inside and out.
Nigeria politics is undergoing a historic change. A change that will be remembered as the year Nigerian youth will elect President of their choice.
From a country that revered established political cabals that has determine the outcome of previous elections through vote buying and rigging.
The arrival of Peter Obi has signalled a change in not only Nigeria politics but also in the interest of the youth awareness in taking back their country and retiring old corrupt politicians.
The presidential candidate of the labour party stated, “If elected the next president of Nigeria, youths would be the main proponents of my main agenda to transform Nigeria from a consuming nation to a producing nation. The two main components of this agenda are human capital development and finance”.
Peter Obi: The Man and the Candidate
It is important to know a little bit about the man who is running for office before discussing the policies themselves. After all, the candidate’s personal characteristics are part of the reason why I believe Peter Obi will make a good president.
Peter Obi is a wealthy businessman. He started his life as a trader, and later ventured into the corporate world, served in various positions for different companies a path which is not surprising since he was born into a trading family.
He came into political limelight when he contested for governorship of Anambra state as the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) political party in 2003.
The election was rigged in favour of his opponent, Chris Ngige of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Obi challenged Ngige’s victory in court and was eventually declared the actual winner by the Court of Appeal on 15 March 2006. Being the first gubernitorial candidate to win in court.
He was impeached by the State House of Assembly seven months of assuming office and was replaced by his deputy, Virginia Etiaba, making her the first-ever female governor in Nigeria’s history. He stated the reason of his impeachment was due to his frugality with public funds as he believes government is for the betterment of the people not a national cake for the political elite.
He returned to court to challenged the impeachment and was reinstated by on the 9th of February 2007 by the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu.
In May 29, 2007, his tenure as the governor of Anambra came to end after Andy Uba won the general elections. Again, he believe in due process and fought the election of Uba in court claiming his four-year tenure he had won in 2003 only started counting when he assumed office in March 2006 and should be allowed to complete his four year tenure.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 14th of June, sided with him and ordered Uba to vacate office for Obi. He served as a first-term governor until March 2010.
Hope for Change
I know that this is a very broad statement, but I truly believe that Peter Obi as president, he will bring change to this country. I hope that he will be the one who will bring us back to our roots – to the values we were founded on and the ideals that were meant to be instilled in this country and its people.
The country needs a change for the better, and I believe Peter Obi will accomplish this. He has always proven to be a man of integrity, honesty, authenticity, and compassion. He will bring change; he will bring us Hope.
Corruption is crippling Nigeria.
Corruption is a crippling problem in Nigeria. A 2016 report by the anti-corruption group Transparency International found that 94% of Nigerians surveyed believed their government was corrupt.
It is widely believed that rampant corruption has contributed to the poor state of Nigeria’s healthcare and education systems, contributing to the fact that it has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world.
It is also a barrier to economic growth as it drives away foreign investment and deters investment from within the country. Peter Obi has proven he can clean up corruption.
As Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi set up a forensic audit unit to tackle corruption in his state government.
Many of the corrupt practices uncovered were in areas such as procurement of goods and services, payment of contractors, the awarding of scholarships, the construction of roads and bridges, and the management of state hospitals.
The forensic audit unit saved the Anambra state government over $110 million within just three years. It also achieved other important objectives that go beyond pure financial savings.
First, it instilled a culture of accountability and transparency in the state administration. Second, it made government officials fear prosecution by state authorities. Third, it created a deterrent effect that discouraged corrupt practices by ordinary citizens and public servants.
People in Nigeria need jobs, not more welfare programs.
Nigeria is one of the most unequal countries in the world. 84% of its people live on less than $2 per day. Nigeria also has one of the world’s highest rates of youth unemployment – estimated at over 65%.
This high level of poverty and unemployment is largely caused by economic mismanagement and a lack of investment in infrastructure and agriculture.
Nigeria is one of the world’s biggest oil exporters. But it only generates about 10% of its GDP from oil. Most of its economy is dominated by agriculture. But it has lagged behind other African countries in growing its agricultural sector.
Peter Obi would focus on growing the economy and creating jobs. Peter Obi has a proven track record of economic success.
As President, Peter Obi would focus on growing the economy and creating jobs by investing in agriculture and infrastructure.
He would prioritize the development of the country’s agriculture sector. He would also work to expand the country’s manufacturing and tourism industries. He would also work to improve the country’s relationship with the West, China and the West African region to facilitate investment.
He would also look to improve the country’s power infrastructure and accessibility, which will help grow the economy.
Security Challenges
Peter Obi, the former Anambra governor and the presidential candidate of the labour party has stated during his town hall meeting home and abroad, that his solution to insecurity in Nigeria would be “decisive and immediate”, insisting the more people are removed from poverty, the more criminality is reduced.
Reacting to the security challenge across the country, the Labour Party’s Presidential Flag bearer, said there are so many things that he would put in place to stem the tide of insecurity, most of which he cannot mention on air at the moment.
But offer “To improve the security situation in Nigeria, if elected as the President, I will ensure the economy works and more people are pulled out of poverty,”.
He said repeatedly, “if I have the opportunity, every state will be responsible for their security. I will make sure that the governors are given the powers to secure their state. Even if we have federal police there, they will be responsible and report to the governor.
Healthcare Reform
Peter Obi has always been vocal about his desire to reform healthcare. This is very important to me for a couple of reasons. First of all, as a young man, I want to a healthcare system that works for all.
Peter Obi, has said that he will ensure at least 100 million Nigerians have access to free medical services if he is elected president in 2023. And I hope and pray that Obi will reform this so that young adults and elderly can have access to healthcare services at an affordable rate.
He said, “My leadership will pay serious attention to the health system by ensuring that at least 100 million poor Nigerians have access to free medical services through an integrated health insurance scheme.”
Obi stressed that not only youths will be beneficiaries of his purposeful leadership but also older Nigerians because he’s willing to run an all-inclusive government.
Education Improvement & Job Creation
Education is crucial to the future of our country and our people. No matter what profession you decide to pursue, education is necessary.
And I hope and pray that Peter Obi will push for more funding for education and reform our education system. I would also like to see our government focus on creating jobs in this country.
As Nigeria is a consuming and import dependent nation, I feel that our economy has suffered greatly. I believe that Peter Obi will work to bring many of these jobs back to Nigeria.
Environment & Energy Independence
There is absolutely no reason for our country to not focus on alternative energy. We have the resources to do so, and there are many viable options.
Peter Obi/Datti Ahmed will push for more research into solar, wind, and geothermal energy. He also has said that he wants to increase funding for power and Energy in Nigeria.
I believe that he will push for more money to be allocated to the Environmental Protection Agency in order to guarantee that all factories, refineries, and other plants are operating with the highest level of safety and cleanliness.
There are many ways that we can improve our environment, but it will take a president who understands the importance and is willing to make it a priority. Peter Obi is that man.
Conclusion
Nigeria is a country in desperate need of new leadership and new ideas. It is a country that has been held back by corruption, inequality, and poor economic management.
Peter Obi is the perfect candidate for President. He has a proven track record of clean government, economic success, and investing in infrastructure.
He is a strong advocate for women’s rights and for equality. Most importantly, he has a vision for a brighter and more prosperous future for Nigeria.
