The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to support his ambition and give him their mandate to lead the country.
Obi made the call on Friday at a news conference in Onitsha, Anambra State, where he announced the commencement of campaign activities ahead of the January 16 presidential and National Assembly elections.
He said Nigeria was facing several serious challenges, some of which he described as existential, but expressed confidence that the country could still work and must work.
“I consider myself quite privileged to be one of those seeking your mandate to deal with these challenges facing our country,” Obi said.
He identified unemployment, weak infrastructure, unreliable electricity, insecurity and the high cost of doing business as major challenges affecting Nigerians and the economy.
“Each year, millions of young people enter the labour market, yet too many struggle to find productive opportunities.
“Weak infrastructure, unreliable power, insecurity and excessive cost of doing business continue to burden households and constrain enterprise.
“With your mandate, our economic agenda will put production, investment, enterprise and human capital at the centre of how we lead,” he said.
Obi said his private-sector experience, academic background and tenure as governor of Anambra State had prepared him for the presidency.
He said his running mate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, also brought complementary experience from his time as governor of Kano State, particularly in education, technical training, scholarships, infrastructure and human capital development.
According to him, the experiences of both men had reinforced their belief that Nigeria must invest in its people and manage public resources responsibly.
“In Anambra, I prioritised the foundations of long-term development: education, healthcare, infrastructure, fiscal discipline and institutional capacity.
“Our experiences are different, but our conclusion is the same: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage public resources with discipline,” he said.
Obi urged Nigerians to scrutinise the records and proposals of all presidential candidates ahead of the election and demand evidence for their promises.
He called for issue-based campaigns, peaceful competition and respect for the outcome of the election.
“I urge Nigerians to examine each candidate’s record and proposals, ask tough questions and demand evidence behind every promise.
“We should debate ideas without hatred, compete without violence and disagree without weakening the bonds that unite us.
“When Nigerians make their choice, that choice must be respected,” he said.
Obi promised that an Obi-Kwankwaso administration would improve agricultural productivity by securing farming communities, expanding irrigation, improving rural roads and storage facilities, and connecting farmers to finance and markets.
He also pledged to strengthen manufacturing and agro-processing to increase Nigeria’s export of finished goods and enable the country to derive greater value from its resources.
“We will create a business environment where entrepreneurs can invest, hire and grow without unnecessary regulatory or infrastructure barriers.
“We will manage public finances responsibly; every naira should have a clear purpose, and major public investments should have measurable outcomes.
“The goal is not growth for its own sake but an economy that produces more, employs more people, creates wealth and improves living standards,” he said.
On security, Obi promised to improve intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies, strengthen policing and border management, and deploy technology more effectively.
He also advocated decentralising security management while maintaining strong coordination among the different levels of government.
“Farmers cannot produce food if they cannot reach their farms safely, children lose the chance to learn when they cannot attend school safely, and businesses cannot create jobs when they cannot move goods securely,” he said.
