Presidential candidate of the Labor Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, on Sunday ordered hand pump water supply in Sabon Layi community, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis in Bauchi LGA.
The Peter Obi Support Group undertook the project in Bauchi State to ease the community’s water supply despite its proximity to the state capital.
The former presidential candidate also announced that 100 community members would be supported with an undisclosed amount of money so that they could celebrate the upcoming Sallah.
Speaking shortly before the commissioning, Peter Obi commended the people for living peacefully among themselves regardless of their ethno-religious differences.
He said what Nigeria needs at this time is peaceful coexistence, stressing that only by doing so can development reach the people wherever they are.
According to him, this project means a lot to me. What we have done is that during this fasting period of Ramadan, I am going around the different communities in Nigeria, going to the people to understand and learn about their livelihoods, how they live, especially in this economically difficult situation, and see if there is a little thing, every little thing I can do to help by providing it, to make their lives better.”
He added: “I also urge them to continue to pray for Nigeria. That is why today we are in this community of Sabon Layi in Bauchi State, where you can see that there is a great need for a small borehole like this, a water supply that will make their lives better. We arranged that for them.”
The former governor of Anambra State added: “We are also going to support 100 of them with a token just to help them within this Sallah period. We request them that in these last few days of Ramadan, the time when Allah hears the prayers, they pray for Nigeria because we have no country other than Nigeria.”
He emphasized, “Unless those of us who by His grace are now leaders come together, love each other and work for the country because the poor people here are suffering, and we have to do something about it. So this means a lot to me.”
He further emphasized: “I go to the communities and address them myself, talk to them myself and listen to them so that we can know how to solve the problems.”
Commenting on the increase in electricity tariffs, he said: “It is very simple. You do the walk for those in the areas where those of us who can easily afford it live; that can continue. Then use the funds to subsidize those who cannot afford it.”
According to him: “Because we need to make many improvements in the energy sector. It takes too long to do that, while we need to generate and distribute more power, we need to take into account that the majority of Nigerians are suffering, so we need to support those areas to live and produce. because if they start producing something, we will eventually be able to lift them out of poverty.”
READ ALSO: Eid el Fitr: Women’s group donates clothes and food to orphans and widows in Kaduna
“That’s where my theory about the transition from consumption to production comes in, but electricity is a crucial part of production. We can’t tax people for nothing. We must support the growth of small businesses by ensuring that this rate is not spread at the same level for the large ones as for the small ones,” he added.
A community representative thanked Peter Obi and his support team for finding the community worthy of the water project, saying the people are really suffering from lack of a source of portable water many years after it was established.
He said that with the hand pump now, suffering will be reduced but said the community needs more than one well considering the way it is expanding as people move there for its serene and peaceful atmosphere.
The community leader assured that residents will continue to pray for Peter Obi and his ambitions as well as for peace in Nigeria and Bauchi State in particular.
