2023: Obi responds to the alleged agreement with Kwankwaso

The Labour Party’s (LP) Mr Peter Obi has refuted claims that he offered Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP presidential candidate, N40 billion in exchange for Kwankwaso’s resignation.

Obi clarified this at a discussion with the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, on Monday in Lagos.

“I never offered anyone money, intentionally or unknowingly, to become president,” he declared.
I never made Kwankwaso an offer of money during any of our conversations.

The former governor of Anambra also made it clear that no one was paying for his political efforts.
“As of right now, nobody will claim to be sponsoring Peter Obi.
I support myself.
People who work for me are not paid by me.

Obi said that Nigeria’s issue was fundamental while discussing how he would turn Nigeria from a consuming to a producing nation.

He said that if elected, the first thing he will do is make sure that the nation had enough food.
“Leadership is all that’s needed to get this country working, and I can provide that.”

Regarding whether he would borrow money to carry out his programs in light of the nation’s increasing debt load, the LP standard bearer said that borrowing was OK as long as it was used to fund output.

If appropriately invested, borrowing has no negative effects.
Every country I’ve researched throughout the world borrows.
What you do with the money is the issue with borrowing.
Borrowing for consumption is problematic, whereas borrowing for production is OK.
It’ll only take out loans for production, and I’ll let Nigerians know why I’m doing it.

I must interact with the populace because it is a leader’s responsibility to do so, he said.

Obi said that he would invest in intangible assets like education to boost the economy and draw international investors to the nation while highlighting the significance of the rule of law.

In order to increase the nation’s supply of electricity, he also pledged to launch a war on the energy sector.

“I’ll declare war on authority.
Since electricity generation is not a very complicated science, a consistent supply of power is attainable.
By enlisting those who are familiar with the system to make things right, we will shift the narrative.

The presidential candidate pledged to replicate Bangladesh’s and Beijing’s models of affirmative action, ensuring that women and young people would be fully represented in his administration.

“Women are more productive than males, and they do things well when they resolve to do them.
He pledged to foster an environment where around 50% of women would be integrated into the national output, proposing to include women and youth in his administration and channel that demographic into production.

“Leadership changes everything,” Obi observed about the cost of government.

Nigeria’s cost of government is intolerable.

We must put a stop to the mischief.

I’ll streamline things, lessen confusion, and make the system function.

Obi spoke on the factors voters should take into account while casting their ballots, saying that nepotism is a more corrupt practice than paying bribes.

Tribe or religion are not relevant in the upcoming election.
Religion and tribalism are the deceptions used by the elites to mislead the populace.

Igbo or because it’s my time, but please don’t vote for me.
I’m running for office in Nigeria as a Nigerian.

So examine each of us closely and confirm our prior behaviour.
Nigerians ought to choose a candidate whose character, skill, and capacity to start acting morally they can rely on.