By Nkechinyere Ewa
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to account for his administration’s performance in the past three years, accusing him of lacking the competence and energy to govern Nigeria.
Obi made the remarks on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, where he urged Nigerians, particularly people of the South-East, not to allow ethnic sentiments to influence their choice of presidential candidate.
He said his ambition should not be supported simply because he is from the South-East or an Igbo man, but because of his capacity and qualifications to lead the country.
“Let nobody divide the South-East. I don’t want the people of Ebonyi to vote for me because I am from the South-East. I don’t want you to vote for me because I am an Igbo person. I want you to vote for me because I am qualified to be the President of this country,” he said.
The former Anambra governor challenged Tinubu to visit Abakaliki and explain how his administration had utilised the funds borrowed since assuming office, insisting that Nigerians deserved to know what their money had been used for.
Obi also questioned the President’s frequent foreign trips, claiming that Tinubu had spent more than 260 days outside Nigeria but could not dedicate up to 36 days to touring the country and explaining his administration’s achievements.
“President Tinubu does not have the competence to run Nigeria. He does not have the energy to run Nigeria. He should pack his things, go home and rest,” he said.
Outlining his policy priorities, Obi said his administration would declare emergencies in critical sectors, beginning with national unity, security, corruption, education, hunger and healthcare. He pledged to promote national cohesion, eliminate ethnic divisions and ensure that the federal character principle was reflected in public appointments.
On security, he promised decisive action against kidnapping and other criminal activities, particularly the abduction of schoolchildren, while pledging to equip security agencies to protect lives and property. He also vowed to wage an uncompromising war against corruption, declaring that anyone found stealing public funds, including the President, would face the law.
Obi further promised to tackle the country’s education crisis by reducing the number of out-of-school children, revive agriculture to address hunger and boost food exports, and establish functional healthcare facilities in every political ward across Nigeria.