I’m not a saint, there is nothing wrong with Nigeria - Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25, 2023 election, Peter Obi, has stated that he is not a saint and that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria.

He also noted that Nigeria has one of the best, in terms of land, weather, and God-given resources, adding that it has some of the best people in the world.

Obi spoke on Thursday, November 2, in his goodwill message as the special guest of honour at Edo Policy Roundtable, in association with Mudiame University, Irrua in Edo Central Senatorial District, which took place at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, Airport Road, Benin, Edo State.

The event was a colloquium and hall of fame, in honour of the national chairman of LP, Julius Abure, with the theme: “The Contemporary Nigerian Politics: The Way Forward for Edo State.”

The well-attended roundtable was chaired by the Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, who was represented by his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu, and expressed optimism that Nigeria would move forward, while the leaders must be adequately supported, with the keynote speaker, Dr Yunusa Tanko, giving an assurance that Obi would still be Nigeria’s president, without being sure of the exact time.

LP’s presidential candidate said: “I am not a saint, and I am not a criminal. I have never done anything that is wrong. I have served the state (Anambra), and I have served in the private sector. Today, we are going through difficulties (in Nigeria). If you do not plan, you have planned to fail.

“Planning is a critical component. The reason countries are failing today is due to a lack of plans/implementation. When politicians are campaigning for elective positions, everything is sweet and good, but when you have the opportunity to serve the people, then you will bring out your true self, and start doing the opposite.

“We can have a better Nigeria. When we have a better Edo State, we will have a better Nigeria. Working together, we can employ our people. There is nothing wrong with Nigeria. Nigeria has one of the best, in terms of land, weather, and God-given resources and it has some of the best people in the world, but the only thing God has not given Nigeria is leadership. If we have good leaders in this country, we will do better.

“A country as Nigeria has no reason to be poor, if not because of leadership. We have more resourceful young people in Nigeria. We have leadership in Nigeria that is engulfed in wasteful consumption, but no production. When you move from consumption to production, you will create jobs for the people.”

Obi also stated that there be a roundtable for Nigeria and for everybody.

He said: “If we get it right, we will live a better life, and all of us are involved. We must stop people from stealing public money. We must stop people from wasting public money. It is not your private money. All of us are involved. We must not celebrate them.

“How much money do you need to eat, as a human being? How long will you live as a human being? Everybody here, no matter how big or small you are, in one hundred years from today, we will all be covered with earthworms. So, what are you acquiring things for?

“Please, join me in building a better Nigeria. We want good news about Nigeria.”

The chief host, Prof. S.E. Eromosele, who is the Chancellor/Founder of Mudiame University, Irrua, earlier in his speech, described the event as remarkably timely while declaring that the inadequacy of human capacity development was a key reason Nigeria’s economy was in a sorry state.

Eromosele also reiterated that government was about the people, while the citizens deserved to be integral to the policy-making process, adding that the policies, strategies and implementation plans must be communicated to the residents.