Nigeria’s journey to food production, sufficiency sure under my government – Peter Obi

…Pledges to prioritize youths, women if elected, flag-off campaign in Nasarawa

The Labour Party Presidential flag-bearer and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi has said assured that once he secures the mandate to be President of Nigeria in 2023, Nigeria will become a food producing country, where threat to farmers, skyrocketing food prices, hunger and poverty would be addressed.

Obi, who stated this on Saturday, at the flag-off of his presidential campaign in Lafia the Nasarawa State capital, also said that his government will not entertain excuses, complain from any quarter or engage in blame game of systemic failure caused by the previous governments, but will rather remain focused to deliver on his promises to Nigerians.

The LP presidential candidate who was greeted by a mammoth crowd when he landed at the Government Science School playground in Lafia, at about 2:19pm, paid homage to the Emir of Lafia and Chairman Nasarawa State Traditional Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Bage (Rtd) in his palace.

According to Obi, because he is ready for the job, he will not give excuses or complain for whatsoever reason when entrusted with the leadership of the country.

He added that, neither he nor any official in his government will siphon public funds to the detriment of the masses.

“Let me assure you that, the government of Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed will change Nigeria for good. Today in Nigeria, the price of food is high, people spend all their money to feed themselves. So many people can’t even feed themselves.

“We will make sure that, we start the journey of Nigeria being sufficient in food production. If India can feed itself, then Nigeria can feed itself.”

He assured that his government will support agriculture in Nasarawa State because of it arable land mass, which is above the land mass in India.

“We will support agriculture in Nasarawa. Nasarawa is big, in a great country. Nasarawa is 27.1 square kilometers of land. It is bigger than Israel of 22 square kilometers, which means Nasarawa can feed itself. We will put money in the State and make sure that, the youths of Nasarawa are out of poverty.”

While calling on Nigerians to support Obi/Datti to succeed in the 2023 presidential election, the LP Presidential candidate stressed that, his government will prioritize youths and women, not government of old, weak people.

“Support us, don’t support those people who are stealing your money. We are not going to steal your money, support us, we mean well. We are young, we are like you. Don’t support and vote these people. That is not what we want, we are ready for the job, and we are not going to give excuse. We are not going to start telling you what we saw when we enter, because two of us are young, educated, two of us can stand, we are not starving, we will feed you.

“The government we are going to form, will be government of youths and women. It will no longer be government of old people. Governance is not a retirement home, it is not old people’s home. I will form government that is energetic. You can see the two of us, we are ready for the job, and we know your problems.”

He reiterated that, his government if formed, will make Nigeria to be a producing nation, saying that “We will provide fertilizer for farmers, we will support farming, and we will remove Nigeria from consumption to production.

“In Nasarawa, if we came into government, I assure you, farmers will get back to farm because we are going to deal with insecurity. We will support farmers, we will support youths. The more youths are put out of poverty, the more there is criminality.

“We will support youths because today, Nigeria youths don’t have a hope. When we come into government, the youths will have hope, because we will solve your problem.”

Obi further assured that, he will solve Nigeria’s electricity problem, improve the standard of education, and ensure that schools are not closed as result of strike, if elected.

He called on every eligible voter to support their candidature and party, and urged them to start campaigning to secure their future and not to give attention to money bag politicians, who stole their money, he added.

The presidential candidate also pledged to invest in sports and ICT to engage the youths to be productive to meet global challenges.

Julius Abure, the Labour Party National Chairman who appreciated the people for turning out enmass to identify with the party of the people, expressed optimism that, Labour Party is the only party that will deliver Nigeria from hunger, poverty, unemployment, saying, it is only Labour Party that has the answer to the many challenges confronting the country.

Abure reminded Nigerians that PDP and APC have failed in leadership, haven been given the opportunity many times to serve, hence the need to change APC and PDP in 2023.

According to him, “Our mumu don do and so, we must take over our country this time and the only people that can do it is me and you, and I am happy that the people of Nasarawa State are ready.”

He advised the people to go all out to mobilise for the collection of voters’ card and to embark on aggressive campaign on the party’s logo for people at the rural areas, adding, that it is the only weapon they can use to enthrone Labour Party and it candidate in government.

He said, by all standards, “Labour Party has the best candidates that can change the political narrative of the country”, saying that, “our party presidential candidate no dey go hospital, e strong, e no dey sick, the vice presidential candidate no dey sick.

“Today, the county is sick from insecurity, it is sick from unemployment, the economy is stagnant, the country is sick and we cannot handover the country to sick people.

“We need more vibrant and energetic persons that will solve the problem of the country and we have that person in Peter Obi”.

The Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, who spoke in hausa language noted that, the only thing standing against peaceful and prosperous Nigeria is tribal, regional and religious politics.

Baba-Ahmed said, Peter Obi is the only candidate campaign that, he should not be voted on the sentiment of religion and tribal and until we understand this, we will continue to fumble.

He maintained, Obi is the only tested, proven and competent candidate with pedigree and clean record, worthy to be trusted to lead this country in 2023.