Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to fight for their future in 2027.
According to him, Nigerians are now being “harassed by hunger” as poverty and food insecurity worsen across the country under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Obi stated this during the burial service of the late Okaji Simon Okorie Abba, father of the NDC senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Rt Hon. Linus Okorie, at St Fintan’s Catholic Church in Enugu Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Obi maintained that the 2027 general election would determine the future of Nigeria.
“We are here today to pay our last respects to his great father. So, our prayers are to God Almighty, who gave my father a long life and has now called him home, to grant him eternal rest in His kingdom,” he said.
“And grant the immediate family and all of us the fortitude to bear the loss of his irreplaceable love. May God continue to bless the family always.”
Asked about his confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general election, Obi said the power ultimately rested with the people.
“Well, it is not about confidence in INEC. Do I still have confidence in the people? Because the people who will determine what INEC will do are the people in the seats. Their votes will count,” he stated.
He urged Nigerians to assess the direction of the country under the current administration.
“So, for the people to look at what is happening in Nigeria and ask themselves: What is the future of our children in this enterprise called Nigeria? Are we going to continue in this direction?
“Anybody you see today who is trying to talk about change in Nigeria is making the ultimate sacrifice because we cannot continue like this. Every day, poverty is increasing. Every day, hunger is increasing.”
Citing World Bank figures, the NDC candidate said, “Did you see all the World Bank reports? Poverty has now risen to almost 79 per cent from 61 per cent when this government came in. And you can see it in the villages. You do not even need the World Bank report.
“They are now saying that 13 million Nigerians are going to face acute hunger, from 17 million when they came in. Can you read my tweet this morning? So, what are we going to do about it? Are we going to continue like this? No.”
On fears of harassment and intimidation of opposition supporters during the election, Obi said the hardship in the country had affected everyone.
“Well, for me, every Nigerian is already being harassed by hunger,” Obi replied.
“People are harassed by things going bad. Everybody is harassed, not just myself. Everybody is harassed. If you are not harassed, if I go to my village, people are harassed. It is time to tell those who are harassed: enough is enough.”
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