April 02, (THEWILL) – The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has revealed that he is in talks with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other political stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s development.
Speaking on Arise News Prime Time on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor dismissed claims of desperation for the presidency, insisting that his priority is fostering a better Nigeria.
When asked about his plans for the 2027 elections, Obi said his focus remains on national progress rather than personal ambition.
“I am reluctant to talk about 2027. Yes, I am part of the coalition, but any political alignment must be centered on Nigeria’s future. It must be about investing in education, healthcare, and economic growth, not just about taking power. We are working together to save Nigeria. I am not desperate to be President, but I am desperate to see Nigeria work,” he said.
Obi argued that elections should be determined by the votes of the people, lamenting that the country’s political landscape has been hijacked by undemocratic practices.
“All these alliances in the past have brought Nigeria to where we are today because they were driven by the quest for power, not development. Instead of focusing on making the country work, they were focused on taking power. The real question is: what will we use the power for?” he asked.
Reflecting on his 2023 presidential bid, Obi stated that he had sought to introduce real change, particularly in education and healthcare.
“I ran in 2023 because I wanted to do something different. By now, you would have seen changes in education, and I would have personally visited schools. Over 70% of primary healthcare centers are non-functional. Millions of Nigerians don’t know where their next meal will come from. People need to believe that leadership can truly work for them,” he said.
On Nigeria’s economic challenges, Obi pointed to the devaluation of the naira and low productivity as key issues.
“There is nothing wrong with naira devaluation, but there must be productivity. Right now, nobody is producing anything. How can businesses survive when interest rates are over 40%? We need to do the right thing, and it is possible,” he stated.
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