Peter Obi, who has declared his ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election and was the Labour Party’s standard-bearer during the 2023 general polls, has confidently asserted that the people of northern Nigeria would celebrate his presidency if elected. Obi, who has become a central figure in the opposition alliance operating under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made this statement while featuring as a guest on Sunday Politics, a programme aired on Channels Television. During the interview, Obi explained that the northern part of Nigeria is a region blessed with extraordinary untapped resources and possibilities. With 19 states, the North possesses extensive fertile farmlands and wields a powerful voter base. Nonetheless, he observed that these abundant assets have consistently been compromised and overshadowed by the continuing security challenges plaguing the area. Peter Obi elaborated by saying, “We have voted for incompetence, we’ve voted for tribe, and we’ve voted for religion. It is time to vote for competence.” He further emphasized that he wanted northerners to have confidence in him, assuring them that their greatest resources lie within their region, particularly in the vast, underutilized agricultural lands. He also acknowledged the severe criminal activities ravaging the North and pledged to tackle those head-on. Obi reiterated that if he becomes president, he is confident the North would be proud of him and would rejoice over his leadership. According to him, he is well aware of the deep-rooted problems affecting the region and holds a practical vision for addressing them.
