Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi has vowed to combat pervasive corruption and insecurity from the continent’s most populous country, Nigeria.
During a speech on Monday at the Chatham House International Affairs think tank in London, Obi, one of 18 candidates vying for Nigeria’s highest office, referred to his nation as “a failing state” in need of new political leadership.
“Unless we change the politics by changing the political leadership, we are stuck in this terrible state of underdevelopment and misery,” he said.
Despite his opponents’ greater name recognition, Bola Tinubu of the ruling party and Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition, Obi is currently leading the crowded field in polls. Abubakar was a former vice president, and Tinubu served as the governor of Lagos State. In 2019, Obi served as the People’s Democratic Party’s running partner for Abubakar.
Since campaigning began late last year, other top contenders have made pledges similar to Obi’s. Tinubu has said he is seeking to “renew hope” while Atiku has said he will “rescue Nigeria”.
The election according to observers, is threatened by security challenges, including conflict spearheaded by armed groups linked to ISIS/ISIL in the northeast, armed bandits in the northwest and secessionists in the southeast.
Peter Obi in his speech said he will hold a dialogue with the secessionists and pledged an array of security measures, particularly in the volatile north, where armed gangs have killed dozens in the last year.
These improvements may inspire members of Nigeria’s enormous diaspora populations to return home and contribute to development.
“What you have seen is a cumulative effect of leadership failure over the years, which would be solved by good governance,” he said.
“When people start seeing justice, fairness and inclusive government, all those things will start reversing. Nigerians are prepared to come back if they can find that they have a country to go back to.”
Source : Aljazeera News