Peter Obi, the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, urged Nigerians to vote for a competent leader in the 2023 general elections, rather than pander to tribal or religious sentiments.
Specifically, Obi asked Nigerians not to vote for him just because he is Igbo or hails from the southeast region, which many Nigerians believe is politically marginalised.
He explained: “Don’t look at tribe or religion. It’s what we, the politicians, the elites, use to deceive you. Don’t look at our religion. Let nobody tell you it’s his entitlement. It’s nobody’s turn; it’s Nigerians’ turn. It’s the turn of the Nigerian youths. Nobody will take anything from them this time! Nobody is entitled to it. And don’t say it’s their money. It’s your money they are giving you. If I bring money, take it.”
The former governor of Anambra State made this known during his courtesy visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Obi, who was welcomed to the palace by the monarch and a crowd of youths, appealed to the electorate to base its choice of a presidential candidate on capacity and commitment to nation building.
He said Nigerians have had enough of hardship, noting that many citizens could barely afford three square meals. Obi told the cheering youths, who flaunted banners bearing his pictures: “It’s now your turn to take this country from them. Choose the right leader that will take the country to its promised land.
“It’s your entitlement. Nobody is entitled to take it from you. If they give you money, take it. They are only paying part of their debt.”
He said Nigeria has capacity to produce food for its teeming masses: “But it’s a pity that we cannot produce enough food for our people that are hungry.”
The LP candidate also lamented that university students have been at home for the past eight months, on account of strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
He said: “This is a movement for the youth to take back their country. I set up a movement that would go a long way to reveal how things are going wrong in the country.
“We have enough land and resources to make provision for feeding the country. A state can feed this nation, not to talk of 36 states. We should not wait for crude oil alone from the Niger Delta to sustain us. Enough land and fund are available for the citizenry.
“Everybody in Nigeria is suffering, including Nigerian youths. Enough of manipulation! Please, don’t consider tribe. It is nobody’s turn! It is Nigerians’ turn!
“Nobody should vote for me because I am an Igbo man or a southeast man or because of my religion. There’s no tribe where people are eating free food. People are not buying bread cheaper in the southwest than in the southeast. Poor people in Nigeria are suffering in Nigeria.”
In his remarks, the Ooni commended Obi for the visit and for creating awareness and enlightenment for youths on government and politics.
The monarch applauded him for reawakening youths for a brighter future; letting them know they have capacity to make themselves available in politics.
