Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, has reaffirmed of his dedication to Nigeria’s progress, and emphasized that his aspiration for leadership is not driven by personal ambition but by a fervent desire to see Nigeria thrive.
Obi’s declaration came following his acknowledgment as Politician of The Year, bestowed upon him by LEADERSHIP. Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Obi articulated, “For me, this award, I am grateful to the almighty God. If I have the opportunity, I will give my all to the country. I am not desperate to be president; I am desperate to make Nigeria work.”
In his address, Obi underscored the importance of engaging young Nigerians productively to combat poverty and crime. “We have no reason to be poor. Poverty should never be part of our lives, especially in the North,” he asserted. “There is so much we can do in the country if we have the right leadership. The more you remove people out of poverty, the less criminals you have.”
Highlighting a commendable act of integrity, Obi announced a scholarship for Auwalu Salisu, a Kano-born tricycle rider, who returned N15 million to its owner. The tricyclist had discovered the forgotten sum in his tricycle, left behind by a Chadian visitor to Kano in September 2023.
To honor Salisu’s honesty, Obi declared during the ongoing LEADERSHIP awards and Conference in Abuja that a full scholarship to Baze University, owned by Obi’s presidential running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has been awarded to Salisu until his graduation. This scholarship, jointly announced with Baba-Ahmed, encompasses Salisu’s tuition, feeding, and other necessities to ensure a conducive study environment.
During his address, Obi also shed light on the untapped potential of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, particularly in the Northern region. “The North has no reason to be poor in Nigeria. We make more money from agriculture than oil,” he remarked. “Imagine Ukraine is giving Nigeria grain, a country that is at war. We have land and everything more than them. But they are giving us grain because 60 per cent of their land is cultivated and 60 per cent of our own is uncultivated.”
Drawing attention to the vast land resources in Northern states like Borno and Taraba, Obi emphasized the need for strategic agricultural development to leverage Nigeria’s agricultural prowess for economic growth.
