Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed confidence that the northern region of Nigeria would rejoice at his leadership if elected president in 2027.
Speaking during an interview on the Sunday Politics programme, Obi, a key figure in the opposition coalition formed under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), highlighted the untapped potential of northern Nigeria and pledged to tackle the insecurity that has held the region back.
He noted that despite the North’s considerable voter base and vast arable land, the region remains underdeveloped due to poor governance and persistent insecurity.
“The biggest asset of this country is in the north, the uncultivated lands in the north. The criminality we face in the north today, I will deal with it,” Obi assured.
Calling for a shift from identity politics to merit-based leadership, Obi said Nigerians must move beyond voting based on ethnic or religious affiliations.
“We have voted for incompetence, we’ve voted for tribe, (and) we’ve voted for religion; let’s vote for competence,” he stated.
Addressing northern voters directly, Obi appealed for their trust, assuring them of his commitment to addressing their challenges if elected.
“I want them to trust me… If I am president, the North will celebrate me. I have an idea of the problem,” he declared.
