The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Monday said that when he becomes president in 2023, he will face the nation’s security crisis head-on.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former Anambra State governor said his solution to the problem will be “decisive and immediate”.
While stressing that the nation’s security situation has been very worrisome, Mr Obi said he feels the Federal Government should do more.
Obi’s comments come a few hours after the terrorists who attacked an Abuja/Kaduna train on March 28, 2022, released three victims out of the 62 hostages who they abducted.
A disturbing video on Sunday had shown some of the victims being flogged, even as the terrorists threatened to sell some into slavery and kill others.
Reacting to the development and others across the country, the Labour Party’s Presidential Flagbearer, said there are so many things that he would put in place to stem the tide of insecurity, most of which he cannot mention on air at the moment.
Speaking further, Mr Obi was of the opinion that there needs to be an economic transformation for the security situation in Nigeria to change.
“To improve the security situation in Nigeria, as President, I will ensure the economy works and more people are pulled out of poverty.
“The more you remove people out of poverty, the more you reduce criminality. It is critical and important, as long as the economy continues to head south like we are seeing today, your criminality will be rising,” Obi explained.
Further to that, he said other measures needs to be put in place including proper man power and standard equipment which will increase productivity.
Mr Obi also stated that with him at the helms of affairs, every state will be placed in charge of their own security.
“I have said it repeatedly that if I have the opportunity, every state will be responsible for their security.
“I will make sure that the governors are given the powers to secure their state. Even if we have federal police there, they will be responsible and reporting to the governor.
“Additionally, the state will be allowed to have their own security system if the need be,” Obi emphasized.
The Labour Party flagbearer for the 2023 presidential election was of the opinion that securing Nigeria is a must and as such, everything possible will be done to ensure Nigerians are once again proud of their nation.
Also he said all 36 states should be responsible for the security of their residents within their domain.
“This security situation has become a complete worrisome situation for everybody concerned. I feel the Federal Government should do more,” he said.
“If I have the opportunity, every state will be responsible for their own security. I will make sure that the governors are given the powers to secure their states. Even if we have federal police, they will be responsible and reporting to the governor.
“For me, I have said it repeatedly that if I have the opportunity, we will deal with the situation head on. There are so many things that we want to put in place in order to ensure that we secure the country.”
The LP candidate insisted that state governors should have every security apparatus to protect lives and properties within their domain.
Stating that security is top on his agenda, Obi explained that he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of seeking technical assistance from advanced countries to help fix Nigeria’s security challenges.
As part of his plans, Obi said if elected as President next year, he will pull millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
According to him, empowering the masses is the means of solving the security challenges as people will not indulge in criminal activities.
He also decried the continued strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), asking the government to invest in the nation’s education sector.
While lamenting the prolonged absence of Nigerian tertiary students from the classroom since February 14, Obi criticised the Federal Government for failing to honout the 2009 agreements reached with the striking lecturers.
He also called for the review of Professors, saying it doesn’t make sense for councilors to earn more than university lecturers.
Regarding his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a statement from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar suggesting that it will be a miracle for the LP’s candidate to become president.
“Miracle is at the root of our faith, what strengthens our faith is miracle,” Obi answered in reply to the PDP’s Presidential Candidate who he still regards as a friend.
He added, “For me, since I started this political journey, my achievements and records have all been miracles, it has all been miraculous.
“I ran for governor in a party that was less than one year old, when I started in 2003 and won the election, they declared somebody else, I went to court and everybody said it was impossible, there is no way, it has never happened before but after three years, the court declared me the winner.
“I was sworn in, six months I was impeached alongside Fayose and Dariye, I went to court and again I became the first governor to come back from impeachment. So I was the first governor to win through the court, and first to come back from impeachment.
“And then in 2007, about one year in office, INEC conducted an election and Andy Uba won and was sworn in as governor, I went to court again to seek the interpretation of our constitution that my tenure is four years, everybody said it will never happen but again the Supreme Court declared me the winner which is why you have staggered election in various states today.
“I can go on an on and tell you so many things that have happened in this my journey which can be termed a miracle, and I am looking forward to the next miracle next year to complete the miraculous journey of my political life.”
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyers