The presidential candidate of the Labour Party and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, on Monday, said he would rescue Nigeria from failed its ‘failed state’ if elected president in 2023.
He argued that when a country was no longer in control of the economy and security, such a country is nothing but a failed state.
The Presidential hopeful, however, added that if elected president in 2023, he would positively change the narrative.
The former Anambra helmsman told the gathering that comprised of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Jamiyyar Matan Arewa, the Center for Historical Development Research(Arewa House) as well as the Arewa Research and Documentation Project, at an interactive session in Kaduna, on Monday that Nigeria was not bereft of ideas but institutional weakness and lack of political will to effect for genuine change that would better the lives of Nigerians.
He said he was committed to unlocking the greatness of the country and lifting her from a consuming country to a producing one while reiterating that insecurity would be a thing of the past when elected as president.
He said this would be done through the creation of employment opportunities for youths who were tools used to perpetrate social vices across the country.
According to the LP presidential hopeful, once jobs are created and the youths are gainfully engaged and made productive, insecurity would have been reduced to the barest minimum and will no longer be a lucrative business, adding that the security agencies will be adequately equipped to handle all forms of insecurity in the country.
Obi said, “We want to bring a transformative government. The greatest assets of Nigeria are in the north.
“The greatest asset of Nigeria is vast uncultivated land in the north but these lands have been taken by bandits.
“We will bring Nigeria back to life. All banks will be shareholders in Bank Of Agriculture where our farmers can directly assess loans.”
He also promised to eradicate poverty in the country, saying that “when you pull people out of poverty, the rate of crime in the country will reduce,” while adding that his candidature is for a new Nigeria where Nigerians would be proud of their fatherland.
He said corruption could only be fought to a standstill only “when one is not stealing.”
“Our past is gone. We are going to face the future. Fighting corruption is easy when one is not stealing. Our money is being stolen, subsidy is an organised crime.
“I want to give Nigerians hope. I and my running mate will be in charge. They will not find us wanting. We have physical strength. I will dialogue with every agitator because it will make us a better and united Nigeria,” Obi declared.