Mr. Peter Obi
By Tony Adibe
The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, interacted with editors at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu, tasking the Nigerian media to act as strict guardians of democratic discourse ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Interacting with the editors and Chief Executives, Obi pleaded with the press to actively police political campaigns, steering politicians away from personal abuse and forcing a relentless focus on issue-based governance. He further tackled key national issues including public healthcare infrastructure, fuel subsidy removal, state debt records, and political alliances.
He said: “Guide Us Away From Personal Attacks.!”
Addressing the editors specifically, Obi emphasised that democracy cannot flourish without a free, fair, and issue-driven environment. He advised journalists to actively intervene whenever political campaigns stray into mudslinging.
”We made a choice to be a democratic country, and that choice can help our country grow. As we approach elections, ensure our campaigns are strictly based on issues that bring good governance, unity, security, and prosperity. If anybody steps out of line and goes into name-calling, say: ‘No, that’s not the issue.’ You can guide us,” he said.
Recalling his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, Obi cited past instances where opposition candidates campaigned freely in his state without harassment or violence. He said: ”When Babatunde Fashola came to Anambra State to campaign for Chris Ngige of the ACN during my second tenure, I gave him my official convoy.
“Because I didn’t have two sets of cars, I stayed back in my office all day while he used my vehicles. When Former President Olusegun Obasanjo came to campaign for Andy Uba, I accompanied him. There was no quarrel. It is the people who decide.”
Fiscal Priorities & Healthcare Emergency
Answering questions from editors regarding budget allocation and public healthcare, Obi criticized the stark disparity in national healthcare spending, contrasting the allocation for political leaders’ clinics against major university teaching hospitals.
According to him, “The 2024 capital budget for the National Assembly Clinic alone is larger than the capital budgets of the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital, UNTH Enugu, LUTH Lagos, ABU Zaria, UniPort, and UniJos put together! The budget of the Aso Rock Clinic is consistently almost 10 times that of the National Hospital. You can Google it! When Boris Johnson had COVID-19, he was taken to St Thomas’ Hospital. There was no private clinic in Downing Street.”
Obi presented a breakdown of how savings from the fuel subsidy removal—estimated at ₦15.8 trillion—could address Nigeria’s critical health crises. He said: “Primary Healthcare: “Only 10% of our primary healthcare centers are functional. To build a standard primary health center across all 8,809 wards in Nigeria at ₦100 million each will cost ₦1 trillion. Why can’t we take ₦1 trillion out of ₦15.8 trillion to put healthcare in every ward?”
“Kidney Care: “Nigeria has nearly 25 million people suffering from kidney problems, yet we have fewer than 300 dialysis centers. Building 1,000 kidney centers with five machines each would cost ₦250 billion.”
“Cancer Centers: “We have fewer than 10 functional cancer centers nationwide. Building 20 state-of-the-art centers at ₦5 billion each requires just ₦100 billion.”
Setting the Record Straight: Soludo, State Debts, and Alliances
Commenting on reports of a rift between himself and incumbent Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, Obi dismissed any notion of a personal rift: “There is no issue between me and Soludo; we are close. My wife and I are godparents to Soludo’s children. Yes, we are that close! We are not quarreling, and we will never quarrel. If I see him, we will hug. He has one vote, and I am campaigning for the people.”
Clearing the air on his financial legacy in Anambra, Obi reiterated his reserve balances, insisting: “I did not leave debt in Anambra State. When I assumed office, I met an $18 million debt. When I left, I left $150 million in foreign currency savings. No other governor has left dollars. Even if you calculate the debts attributed to us, the accrued interest on $150 million alone would have cleared it while leaving a massive surplus.”
Electoral Integrity & Looking Ahead to 2027
Commenting on voter turnout and election credibility, Obi pinpointed Nigeria’s low participation rate in the 2023 elections compared to international standards: “We have 94 million registered voters, but total votes cast were around 25 million—just 25%. People didn’t vote because they felt their votes wouldn’t count. In 2027, we must ensure free, fair, and credible elections. I can state here today: if I ever have the opportunity, anybody who rigs an election will go to jail,” he said.
Obi ended his remarks by stressing that his political ambitions are secondary to the nation’s survival. According to him, “I am not desperate to be President. I am only desperate to see Nigeria work. A country like Ukraine, which is actively at war, gave us grain to fight hunger. Bangladesh is the third-largest rice producer in the world on a landmass the size of Niger and Borno states combined. We have no problem with our land or weather—our leadership is the problem, and we must correct it.”
