The Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has announced that he has no interest in forming any political coalition aimed solely at seizing power in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at a National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria, Obi criticized the prevalent use of coalitions in Nigerian politics as a means of power-grabbing. He expressed disappointment over the current state of Nigerian politics, stressing that politicians have abandoned the welfare of the country in pursuit of political power.
Obi also lamented the decline of democracy in Nigeria, noting that the consequences of this collapse are evident in the daily struggles of citizens and the uncertain future for Nigerian children. He emphasized that Nigerians must get involved in efforts to strengthen democracy, acknowledging that the current state of the nation is far from working effectively.
Regarding the proposed coalition, Obi made it clear that his focus was not on power for its own sake, but on addressing the country’s fundamental issues. He expressed his concerns about the nation’s security, poverty, and the education system, highlighting the need for urgent action to secure a better future for Nigeria.
Obi also condemned the growing monetization of politics in Nigeria, warning that it encourages corruption and the misuse of public funds. He argued that the practice allows politicians to amass power through corrupt means, including gaining immunity from prosecution after using stolen funds to secure election victories. He called for an end to this practice, stressing that it is driving the cycle of corruption.
Reflecting on the Ghanaian political experience, where the former Vice President conceded defeat, Obi underscored the importance of respecting the will of the people and serving their interests. He stated that true democracy is about empowering citizens and putting their needs at the center of governance.
While urging all Nigerians to get involved in strengthening democracy, Obi said: “We have seen that whatever happens in democracy affects the citizens. It affects their daily living and the future of their children. So, we must all now get involved to make it work because we know that it’s not working in Nigeria.”
On the proposed coalition, the former Anambra governor replied: “For me, what is important is about the country. We must talk about the future of Nigeria. We abandoned the country, and all we talk about now is power grabbing.”
“I am not interested in any coalition for the purpose of taking power. It is about discussing Nigeria, how we care about securing Nigeria, care about the common people in the country, and their education. That is the most important thing in Nigeria for now.
“The conversation has been on for a long time. It is now time for us to take action because you can see where it brought us to. We now live in an insecure country. We now live in a country that is breeding poverty every day. People are suffering. So many people don’t know where the next meal will come from,” he lamented.
He also frowned against the increasing cases of monetisation of politics, stressing: “That is what we need to remove, because what you are doing is encouraging stealing of public money. If I steal it and use it to win an election, then I get all the power and everything, including immunity not to be prosecuted. So we must stop it. That is what is driving the stealing.”
On the biggest takeaway from the Ghanaian experience, where the former Vice President and candidate conceded defeat, Obi said: “It is about the will of the people. People must be in charge. It is about serving the people, and that is most critical.”