I Am Not Desperate To Be President - Obi Tells Nigerians

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has insisted he is not desperate to be Nigeria’s president.

While speaking to graduating students, the former Anambra governor encouraged them to embrace a spirit of service.

Obi stated that effective leadership stems from a commitment to driving positive change rather than personal ambition.

“All of this is to inspire you to ignite the change and provide support,” he said.

It’s not about saying, ‘I want to be in charge, I want to do this, or I want to do that.’”

Addressing claims of desperation, Obi clarified: “When people say I’m desperate, I say, ‘No, I am not desperate to be Nigeria’s president. I am desperate to see Nigeria work because it can work.”

He urged Nigerian youths to help usher in the “right leadership that the country needs for development.” Citing economist and Nobel laureate James Robinson, Obi noted, “Last year, Robinson said that Nigeria is a country that knows what to do to prosper but refuses to do it.”

The former governor likened the country’s

situation to allowing drivers who have already reached their destinations to continue steering the vehicle, warning that such leadership would inevitably lead to losses.

“You cannot let people who have passed their time or reached their destinations drive you. That is what you need to help reignite. Use what you have to help us change society. Don’t become part of the problem,” Obi said.

He further challenged the youth to rise above the failures of past generations, stating: “You are victims of Nigeria’s situation because our generation and the one before us refused to do what was right. Now we are all suffering for it.”

My Good Friend, Peter Obi Should Wait Till 2027 To Be President Not 2023 – Ex-Governor, Babangida Aliyu

Ex Governor Babangida Aliyu has advised Labour Party’s presidential flag bearer Peter Obi to wait for his turn to be president in 2027 or 2031. Mr Aliyu, a former Niger governor, does not think Nigerians are ready for a president in the mould of Mr Obi.

In an interview with Channels TV, Mr Aliyu described Mr Obi as “a very excellent person” whose entry into the presidential race is “too early.”

“Peter Obi is my good friend. His candidature, in terms of the presidency – I think he will make some name now. But he may be able to make it only in 2027, 2031. But 2023? Too early,” Mr Aliyu said. “Even though the young people might go for him, the name is not dropping everywhere else. I doubt if Nigerians are ready for him now as a presidential person.”

Ejike Mbaka, a fiery Catholic father and spiritual director of the Adoration Ministry, had last week cast aspersion on Mr Obi, calling him stingy and unfit to be Nigeria’s next president.

“If Igbo people are looking for a representative in Nigeria, they are not the kind of person Peter Obi is. Whoever refuses to donate to the church should be the president?” Mr Mbaka pointed out. “It is better to have a president who is a gifted old man than a young man with ‘gum’ hands. Do you want people to starve? If he becomes president, he will close our ministry.”

In May, Mr Obi left the Peoples Democratic Party, having realised that he would not clinch the party’s presidential ticket. He defected to the Labour Party and was made the party’s presidential flag bearer.

Mr Obi is popular with many Nigerian youths on social media platforms, particularly the microblogging site Twitter.

Lately, the former Anambra governor has been tearing at the political leaders in Nigeria, regarding many of them as lunatics who have turned the country into a massive asylum.

“We can’t allow this gangsterism to continue. Nigerians should take back their country. Seventy per cent of those who are in politics today should not have any reason to be there. I have said it, politics in Nigeria is a case where lunatics have taken over the asylum,” said Mr Obi.

He stated this on Sunday at a conference organised by the Revival House of International Church (RHOGIC), Abuja.

The LP presidential candidate is in alliance talks with the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

Specifically, NNPP’s presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso disclosed that his party and LP were in talks to ally ahead of the 2023 presidential elections.

“We are really talking to Peter Obi, or at least saying that the committee is working to look into the matter (and cooperate with him), and friends and family are coming to talk to us about it,” the former Kano governor stated.

Road To 2023: It’s Your Turn To Be President – Kingibe Tells Tinubu

 

Former running mate to the late Chief Moshood Abiola, popularly known as MKO Abiola, Babagana Kingibe drump support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s next President.

Speaking in a meeting with the former Lagos state governor, Tinubu at the weekend, Kingibe said the former Lagos governor will be Nigeria’s next president because of his sacrifices.

“Eyin lo kan (It’s your turn),” he said in Yoruba.

“You will move from Jagaban of Borgu to Jagaban of Nigeria; from Asiwaju of Lagos to Asiwaju of Nigeria. For all your sacrifices, for all your effort, God will reward you this time.”

Recall that Tinubu while speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State a few days before the APC presidential primary election sparked controversy when he said ‘emi lo kan’ (it’s my turn).

“E gbe kini yi wa (Bring the Presidency),” he had also said.

Mr Tinubu will be running for the Successor of Buhari along, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and others from other political party.