2023: Peter Obi woos Ogun PDP delegates, says my aspiration is for a better Nigeria
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Former governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential hopeful in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Peter Obi has said that his decision to join the presidential race is rooted in his strong conviction that he has what it takes to build a better Nigeria from the present state of hopelessness.
Mr Peter Obi while meeting with the party delegates at its state secretariat, Abeokuta on Monday disclosed that the country is already tending towards a failed state and it therefore required having a competent and time tested hands to bring it back on track of economic prosperity and nation that we all could be proud of.
Obi’s presidential campaign team was led by the former presidential Spokesman, Dr Doyin Okupe. Others at the event were Hon Oladipupo Adebutu, one of the party’s governorship aspirants in the state, Hon Sukurullahi Ogundele, the state Chairman of the party, Chief Kolapo Ogunjobi, Chairman, Ogun PDP Elders Forum, Aare Tunde Alabi, Chief Mrs Ojaronke Ogunremi among others.
He said rather than playing cards of ethnicity, the PDP delegates at the primaries should consider voting for someone like himself with past records of verifiable achievements and prudent management of resources during his eight years as the governor of Anambra State.
Obi said that he wasn’t only paying salaries as and when due but also settled over N33bn backlog of inherited pensions and gratuities and that while leaving office, he left N75bn in the coffers of the state.
Obi said “As we approach new elections in Nigeria, it is important we reflect what we are. Unexamined life is not worth living. We need to examine where our country is today. There is agitation everywhere. We have banditry, terrorism, these are culmination of leadership failure in Nigeria. Our country never look into the future and the consequences are what we are seeing today, it is a failure of not investing in the future. We must act now so that Nigeria will not collapse.
Our country has 33% of unemployment when you add that of underemployment, it is about 65 percent and 60 percent of these are youths. Our youths in their productive age are doing nothing. Today out country is owing retirees pension and gratuity. We must change this situation.
“Our universities are closed, about 16 million students out of school, unemployment amongst our Youths is the highest in the world. Do not look at money or what people are saying, let’s change the country. I have seen the pains of people in the North East and North West. We might all soon be refugees in our country a few years from now if we fail to act rightly now. So whatever we want to do as 2023 approaches, we must think about our tomorrow and future of children.
In his welcome address, State Chairman of the party, Hon Sukurullahi Ogundele disclosed that “what is so obvious in Nigeria today is that our country is on a precipice, it lacks directions, there is so much anguish in the land and that is why our great party must leave no stone unturned to save the nation from outright destruction come next year”.
Hon Sukurullahi Ogundele described Peter Obi as another competent and intelligent Nigerian who has all it takes to build a new Nigeria from its present ruins.
Hon Ladipupo Adebutu in his short remark said Peter Obi is one of the highly gifted and very resourceful leaders being paraded by PDP as its 2023 presidential hopeful saying that but for other party’s considerations such as zoning among others, the former Anambra governor stands in good stead to represent the party during next year elections.
