Ahead of the 2023 election, the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has lamented the continuous intimidation of his supporters by security agencies.
Newsonline reports that the former governor of Anambra State said elections can not be deemed free and fair when certain groups employ the tool of intimidation to ensure that the opposition is silenced.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Peter Obi said the silent arrests of his supporters-‘obidients’ -by security agencies are disturbing and condemnable.
Peter Obi said, “Elections are not deemed free and fair when a certain group employs the tool of intimidation to ensure that the opposition is silenced, both at the campaigns and at the polls.”
He argued that “Peaceful assembly and unfettered electioneering campaigns are constitutionally guaranteed. Both and other ordered liberties cannot be breached wilfully by security agents.
“Recent reports of OBIdients being silently arrested by some security agents are extremely disturbing and condemnable. We must ensure that everyone is given a level playing field in the forthcoming elections, and that no eligible Nigerian, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation is disenfranchised, more so through violence and intimidation.
“I call on the Federal and State agencies to remind their operatives on the need to respect civil liberties.”
The Labour Party presidential candidate also paid tribute to his supporters across the world for their commitment to the work of rescuing Nigeria for a better future.
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Obi who stated this in an appreciation address in Michigan, United States, said “the journey to rescue Nigeria, could not have gained momentum without the proactive role of our youth.”
In a series of tweets, the former governor of Anambra said, “I wish to pay tribute to Nigerian youths wherever they may be– at home and in the Diaspora. The journey to rescue Nigeria, could not have gained momentum without the proactive role of our youth. I salute them. The race is far from over; the campaigning has only just started.
“Yet I am confident that given their resilience, they will stay the course. We are committed to retooling governance and bringing about a secure and united Nigeria.”
He further promised, “We will pursue a production-centered growth for food security and export; effective legal and institutional reforms (rule of law, corruption and government effectiveness);the leapfrogging of Nigeria from oil dependency to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
“We will expand physical infrastructure through market-driven reforms (by unleashing growth-enabling entrepreneurship and market-creating innovations); we will engender human capital development that empowers competitiveness and gender balance; and a pursue a robust Afrocentric foreign policy that restores Nigeria’s strategic relevance at the bilateral, multilateral and global levels.
“We must think seriously about a leadership that is imbued with competence, capacity, credibility and commitment.
“We will pursue intangible assets of good governance, rule of law, security of lives and properties.
“We will tweak the security architecture, by offering each arm or agency lead in areas where they have comparative advantage. Total reform of the entire security architecture that will include 3 level policing- Federal, state and community.”
On security and economy, Peter Obi continued, “A properly manned, equipped and technologically driven security system will entail reforming the security sector and governance, with particular emphasis on re-focusing the military on external threats and border protection and police on internal security threats and law enforcement; swift prosecution of criminals, bandits and terrorists; enhanced coordination among security agencies; and upholding the rule of law.
“We will aggressively support the private sector to invest in the power chain through a multifaceted approach particularly the transmission infrastructure.
“We will, therefore, vigorously pursue the liberalization of the transmission infrastructure in addition to a robust power mix- embedded power and renewable energy.
“We will support local refining for domestic use and priced strictly in Naira. Starting with all government vehicles, we will transition to gas-powered cars.”
He assured that “Once we tackle insecurity and farmers return to farms, our food production will go up and inflation will go down through reduced food prices.”
“We shall pursue a drastic reduction in cost of governance and corruption; Improve ease of doing business to attract FDI to jumpstart industrialization and when borrowing is unavoidable, it will be strictly for regenerative purposes and production.
“We will aggressively pursue the global best practices and standards within available resource. In the medium and long term, 14% budgetary funding for education is within the realm of possibility.
“We will re-direct UBEC and TETFund resources to the strict and robust funding of basic and tertiary institutions, with a view to ending the perennial strikes by University Staff and workers,” he further stated.
Peter Obi further added that, ” It will take only one visionary leadership and disruptive thinker for Nigeria to be put back on the right trajectory. I know that with a robust diaspora support we can take back Nigeria.”
