Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, says
he will address critical issues bedevilling the country, if he is elected into
Aso Rock.
Obi spoke on Monday at the presidential economic agenda
forum of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
According to him, any government that takes over in 2023
would be faced with daunting challenges — both domestic and external — which
have degenerated over the years due to leadership failure.
These challenges, Obi said, had impacted negatively on the
country’s unity, social cohesion, trust in government, wealth, education,
employment, health, commerce, among other indices.
He stressed that the country was not lacking good ideas and
plans, adding that institutional weakness and lack of political will to
implement them had limited its economic potential.
Obi said, if elected, the country must hold his government
accountable in terms of visible and measurable changes on security,
manufacturing for exports and adherence to the rule of law to consolidate
Nigeria’s democracy.
“Good governance must be aimed at providing good service and
receiving constructive criticism and moving forward with the goal of bringing
back the trust of people to governance,” the presidential hopeful said.
“Under my watch, all groups such as the youth, women,
disabled, vulnerable, private sector, must be represented in my government’s
decision making process seeing that I am committed to providing a demand driven
leadership.
“As a trader, I am one of you and sincerely recognise your
challenges and pain, and would provide my own solutions to the questions that
have been raised, particularly, security which is impacting on all other
economic problems.
“We have identified and prioritised seven critical areas in
line with some sustainable development goals (SDG) to ensure purposeful
leadership as we secure and unite Nigeria with effective legal and
institutional reforms.”
Obi stressed that to address the country’s revenue crisis,
his administration would invest in manufacturing to move the country from
consumption to production and exportation.
He said his government would also create an asset register
and ensure that the country’s assets become more productive under genuine
private sector watch.
“To address power, the first thing is to provide funding
access, tax incentives and address issues of embedded power and renewable
energy,” he added.
“I am not saying that I am going to be a superman but I am
going to bring the political will to follow the rule of law, to deal with
issues of oil theft, and address leakages in government revenue to address the
funding of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).”
Obi also accused government officials of being complicit in
menace of oil theft.
According to him, “people in the government” are responsible
for the crime.
He added that Nigeria has lost about $5 billion in the
months of July and August alone to oil theft and other challenges affecting oil
production.
“People in the government are the ones stealing oil. Nobody
here can steal oil,” Obi said
“There’s no way under my watch that we will not find a
solution to oil theft.”
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