Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has insisted that President Tinubu has kept his campaign promises to Nigerians.~ We should be celebrating STATE CAPTURE and not Democracy.
Obi made this statement during a Democratic Day chat on Arise TV.
Here are some of the highlights of what he said during the interview:
In those days of electioneering, Tinubu had promised to build a Nigeria, especially for the youth, where sufficient jobs with decent wages create a better life.
According to Tinubu, Nigeria would manufacture, create, and invent more of the goods and services it requires, adding that the country shall be known as a nation of creators, not just of consumers.
He added that Nigeria would export more and import less, thereby strengthening both the naira and citizen’s way of life.
But in all, Tinubu had maintained that, “I will continue from where Buhari stopped.”
And Peter Obi, who contested against Tinubu in the election and came third, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said that among all his promises, the President has kept the part he vowed to walk in the footsteps of his predecessor.
“I think President Tinubu has performed exceptionally well in his first year in office. I’ll say that President Tinubu has kept his campaign promises,” Obi said.
“Throughout his campaign, he consistently maintained that he would continue from where Buhari stopped and that he’s done very well.
“I’ll give him excellent passes. Dollar was N450, it’s now N1500. Fuel was about N238, it’s now about N700; diesel was N844, it’s now N1415; a bag of rice was N30000-N35000, it’s now about N80,000; a bag of beans was similar, N30,000-35000, it’s now about N90,000; a tuber of yam was about N2000-N3000, but now it’s about N10,000; tomatoes basket was about N40,000 and now it’s about N150,000; electricity was N66 per kilowatt but now it’s about N200, you can go on and on.
“Even bread, which is a basic thing other countries are subsidizing, small-medium bread was about N450 but is now N900. The big one is about N1500.”
Other promises made by Tinubu include, but not limited to, “assisting our ever-toiling farmers, through enlightened agricultural policy that promotes productivity and assures decent incomes, so that farmers can support their families and feed the nation; modernizing and expanding public infrastructure; emboldening and supporting our young people and women by harnessing emerging sectors such as the digital economy, entertainment and culture, tourism, train and give economic opportunity to the poorest and most vulnerable among us; generate, transmit and distribute sufficient, affordable electricity; make basic healthcare, education, and housing accessible and affordable for all; and most importantly, establish a bold and assertive policy that will create a strong yet adaptive national security architecture and action to obliterate terror, kidnapping, banditry, and all other forms of violent extremism from the face of our nation.”
~Institutions of Govt should be allowed to function. I have never interfered with INEC, police or any other state agency. INEC should be allowed to operate independently. He made examples of the transparency of South Africa and India elections.
~ We are exploring and talking with like minds on collaborations and possible merger – but nothing concrete yet.
~I don’t comment on HE SAYS or SHE SAYS, I like to face the issue. I won’t respond on Wole Soyinka or Doyin Okupe’s attack against me.
~If leaders chose to be corruption free, corruption will reduce by 50%
~ EFCC should go after politicians that destroying the country, not the likes of Bobrisky and Cubana Chief Priests for spraying Naira.
~I am not desperate to be president, I am desperate to make Nigeria work