Presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi has lamented the level of insecurity in Nigeria, calling for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, other freedom fighters and any #EndSARS protesters still being detained.
Obi who spoke to journalists on Saturday morning in Onitsha,
called on leaders to double their efforts in providing security for citizens,
saying that if nothing was done, the country may become a failed nation.
He said: “The primary work of government is the security of
lives and property. It is the foundation on which people can live in any nation
because no one can stay in an insecure place.
“It is worrisome what is happening in Nigeria with the news
of killings, abductions and others which has made Nigeria one of the most
insecure places on the surface of the earth. Infact, it is leading to a failed
nation.
“I thank government for their efforts so far, but there is
need to do more, and all leaders must come together to join hands and fight
this. In the South-East, there is need for the governors to come together to be
able to tackle it.
“Even on economic agenda, I want to see the South-East
governors work closely more. We want to see them come together and also bring
together other groups in the zone.”
Giving his views on the continued detention of Kanu, Obi
said: “I don’t see any reason for his continued detention, especially as the
courts have granted him bail. Government must obey the court.
“Rule of law is an intricate asset that we must cherish and
live with. I use this opportunity to plead with government to ensure that all
those who are in similar conditions are released and discussed with. We are in
a democracy and we should not be doing things that are arbitrary and not within
the law.”
Speaking about protest in Kenya and if he supports Nigerians
to do same, the former governor said: “I’m against riot or destruction of
government assets and property, because it is still scarce resources that we
are going to use to repair them, but I’m not against peaceful protests.
“Peaceful protest is allowed, but it must be for a reason
and not personal interest of some people to satisfy a particular interest. It
must be properly articulated and properly directed.
“I recall when people said there were protesting police
brutality and I said to them no, let’s rather deal with the leadership. If we
have good leaders, their agents can’t be bad. The problem is leadership. If the
leaders are competent, have the capacity and do the right thing, their agents
will follow their examples.
“I want to use this opportunity to say that all those who
are being held because of one protest or the other should be released. Whether
it is freedom fighters, #EndSARS protesters, or even because of freedom of
speech, be it journalists, let them all be released immediately.
“We are a democratic country and people have right under the
Constitution to express themselves freely. They also have right to peacefully
protest and we must listen to them. We must listen to those who say they are
not happy, that is why it is a democratic nation. We should stop acting
dictatorial and behave as if this is not a democratic country.
“I know we are in a state capture, but then, we should act
in a manner that shows some decency.”
On whether there are plans for him to join other politicians
to form a mega party to oust the All Progressives Congress, APC, Obi said he
had no such plans.
“I will rather say that I’m more particular on how the poor
Nigerian can feed. I will rather talk about things that are affecting Nigerians
today. We politicians are preoccupied by election, and that is not what I’m
after. I’m talking about how do we reduce the price of food?
“Our people are dying of hunger, how do we make life more
conducive for the poor Nigerian? ow do we make our people to earn more money?
How do we pull people out of poverty? That should be our concern, and not
forming a mega party.
“But if forming mega party is to be able to provide all
these things I have illustrated, then I’m all for it. But if it is for state
capture, so that you can take power and continue with the consumption,
consumption, consumption, that we see today, I will say no. But if it is to
move it to production, production, production, then I say yes.”
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