The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has said he is neither a saint nor a criminal.
The former Anambra State Governor added that he did his best and served meritoriously when he was Governor and also in the private sector.
He stated that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria as the country is blessed in terms of land, water and other resources but the only thing lacking is good leadership.
In his words, Nigeria has no reason to be poor if there is good leadership.
Obi made the submissions on Thursday when he spoke as the special guest of honour at the Edo Policy Roundtable, in association with Mudiame University, Irrua in Edo Central Senatorial District, which took place at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, Airport Road, Benin, Edo State.
The event was a colloquium and hall of fame, in honour of the national chairman of LP, Julius Abure, with the theme: “The Contemporary Nigerian Politics: The Way Forward for Edo State.”
The LP presidential candidate said: “I am not a saint, and I am not a criminal. I have never done anything that is wrong. I have served the state (Anambra), and I have served in the private sector. Today, we are going through difficulties (in Nigeria). If you do not plan, you have planned to fail.
“Planning is a critical component. The reason countries are failing today is due to a lack of plans/implementation. When politicians are campaigning for elective positions, everything is sweet and good, but when you have the opportunity to serve the people, then you will bring out your true self, and start doing the opposite.
“We can have a better Nigeria. When we have a better Edo State, we will have a better Nigeria. Working together, we can employ our people. There is nothing wrong with Nigeria. Nigeria has one of the best, in terms of land, weather, and God-given resources and it has some of the best people in the world, but the only thing God has not given Nigeria is leadership. If we have good leaders in this country, we will do better.
“A country as Nigeria has no reason to be poor, if not because of leadership. We have more resourceful young people in Nigeria. We have leadership in Nigeria that is engulfed in wasteful consumption, but no production. When you move from consumption to production, you will create jobs for the people.”
Speaking further, Obi submitted that politicians must be stopped from stealing public money if Nigeria would get better.
He cautioned against celebrating those with ill-gotten wealth.
He said: “If we get it right, we will live a better life, and all of us are involved. We must stop people from stealing public money. We must stop people from wasting public money. It is not your private money. All of us are involved. We must not celebrate them.
“How much money do you need to eat, as a human being? How long will you live as a human being? Everybody here, no matter how big or small you are, in one hundred years from today, we will all be covered with earthworms. So, what are you acquiring things for?
“Please, join me in building a better Nigeria. We want good news about Nigeria.”
The roundtable event was chaired by the Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, who was represented by his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu.
Also, the keynote speaker at the event, Dr Yunusa Tanko, gave an assurance that Obi would still be Nigeria’s president at the right time.
