By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The frontrunner in the forthcoming general election and Labour Party flagbearer, Peter Obi has debunked the insinuation that he gifted the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) the sum of N2 billion ahead of 2023 elections, arguing that the association supposed to support his campaign organisation financially and spiritually to win the presidential election on February 25.
Obi who was a guest of Channels Television nightly political programme ‘Politics Today’ monitored in Abuja on Monday distanced himself from the “church gift”, saying that it never happened.
According to him such talks of him give out the huge amount of money to an organisation just like that, insisting that by his nature he could not have done what he is rumoured to have done.
Said he: “Seun, you know me. I can’t give people who are supposed to be praying money. For what? They should be the one to do that because their job is simple. They need to pray for a better governed Nigeria. They need to pray for a New Nigeria”.
The former Anambra state governor also said that religious leaders are also not insulated from what has become of Nigeria where their members are under huge threats of insecurity, economic hardships and other societal malaise hence they should join in the battle to rebuild the Nigeria of everybody’s dream.
Obi therefore urged Nigerians of all creeds or faith to join the Labour Party in the fight to save Nigeria sliding further the precipice, saying “It’s now or never to save our country from dying”.
Asked what he thinks about a popurted decamping of some Labour Party members in Ogun state who claimed they left because Obi has no clout to win the presidential election, he said it was mere blackmail by desperate politicians who have nothing to offer Nigerians.
“Seun, you know, I don’t want to be talking about politics of yesterday. Seun, you know, we don’t want to be talking about politics of yesterday. I don’t want to be trapped in the politics of yesterday. Those who think of yesterday and today will miss tomorrow.
“So, I am commited to a New Nigeria and that New Nigeria is not a Nigeria where you do all these gimmicks that were practiced yesterday.
“I am talking about let’s discuss what will take Nigeria out of her present predicament and not issues of yesterday. These are Transactional Politics, I am not in Transactional Politics where you have to carry people and do all sorts of things.
“My kind of politics is talking about what do we do to build a New Nigeria where the mass youth of Nigeria will be gainfully employed and to cut the unemployment rate…”
The Labour Party candidate also promised that with the New Nigeria. he and his Vice Presidential candidate Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed will lead will be all inclusive, adding that after two years of his regime Nigerians will no longer say “I am from North, West, East but I am a Nigerian”.
On whether the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) still support Labour Party like during the leadership of ex-NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba now that Comrade Joe Ajaero has taken over reigns of power, Obi replied in affirmative.
“I want to assure you that Labour Party, NLC and TUC as well as all affiliates are in the struggle for New Nigeria together. Look, if you are looking for those who are suffering most, in all these, it’s Labour. TUC, NLC are all part of it. So my concentration, my desperation is for a Nigeria that is working for all.
“We are in the country, Seun, your country does not have strong disposable or call it local middle class that can afford to say…local demand is weak because of inflation, because of unemployment. This is what should be worrying candidates”, Obi insists.
On why some of his rival Presidential candidates still say he has no structure to win election, Obi said they are entitled to their opinion as he is busy meeting voters across 36 states and FCT.
Said he:”Seun, when you started your programme this night you said Peter Obi visited the markets and people came out in their numbers and saw the numbers and numbers were physical.
“You know, when we started they said it was four people in a room tweeting. Now they say I don’t have structure, I don’t have the Numbers.
But the numbers will be determined by the voters.
My biggest structure, I have said it, is the Almighty God, followed by the people of Nigeria whom I am pleading with let’s build a New Nigeria. A New Nigeria Is Possible and am committed to it.
I have said hold Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed responsible for that New Nigeria that will be Secured, United and a Nigeria that will move from Consumption to Production and where there will be Rule of Law…”
Asked if he is comfortable with all the pre-elections polls conducted by local and international Pollsters which placed him on top of the 17 other Presidential candidates, he said although he happy but he is still working hard to improve on the performance on February 25.
According to him: “This is Why am going round the country pleading to Nigerians from North, West, South and East to come out in their numbers to vote for Labour Party. I want see Nigerians going out in their numbers peacefully, voting and ensuring that this election is free, fair and credible and all of us come together in love and start building a New Nigeria…”.
