The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress [NDC], Peter Obi has reiterated his pledge not to seek re-election if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
The NDC flagbearer made the disclosure in an interview with BBC Hausa.
The excerpt from the interview is published below…
Madina: “You promised Nigerians you’d serve just four years as president. Won’t you get attached to power after that?”
Peter Obi : “I won’t stay one more day after four years. I’m eager to work, not to hold power.”
On the issue of security, Obi said he won’t sit in Abuja issuing orders; he’ll keep going to the places to see with his own eyes. What’s needed is for the president to assure that the problem will come to an end. These criminals are known; they’re in the bush, so we’ll find them.
Madina: “But I’ll wait for you in the bedroom, because I’ll keep going to work too.”
Peter Obi: “Oh Madina, if I become president of Nigeria, I won’t leave this country; I won’t go on vacation or stay one day in three years. I’ll only travel for certain reasons, but not for vacation.”
“In three years, I’ll vacation right here in Nigeria, in Zamfara, or Sokoto, or Jos. I’ll go to the places hardest hit by the problem. I want to use that opportunity to talk with the people.”
On the oil sector funding, Obi said embezzlement and corruption are the big problems, and he’ll tackle the corruption in oil funding. It’s corruption that’s crippling the oil sector. What I’ll do is eliminate the corruption and then move forward with funding.
“If you don’t steal, and your wife and children don’t steal, that problem will drop by 50 out of 100.”
Madina: “Buhari once said he’d tackle corruption, but that didn’t happen.”
Obi: “Hold on, hold on Madina. The difference between me and Buhari is, he wasn’t fully in charge. I’ll be fully in charge in government.”
Madina: “Would you step aside if we found one opponent you could back?”
Obi: “Let the people choose who they want.”
Madina: “You wouldn’t step aside like that?”
Obi: “No, no… Think about it. What if one person gets 20 million votes?”
If you win in 2027, would you run again?
Obi: “Time is getting older for me, but maybe if it fits. But I want Nigeria to become a country where children born after independence will lead.”
Why didn’t you pick a young running mate, even though you say you want youth to lead Nigeria?
Obi: “No, no. Kwankwaso, compared to other Nigerian candidates, is young. The job needs someone with grit. Kwankwaso has grit in politics.”