By Grace Udofia
Former Governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential candidate in the 2019 Presidential elections, Peter Obi has said the security of lives and property is a more paramount concern than the 2023 general elections, as Nigerians now live in fear.
Obi who was responding to questions on the leadership crisis rocking his party on Arise television on Monday, said following the high level of insecurity in different parts of the country, the people no longer have confidence in the Nigerian state.
In an analogy, he explained how it is difficult for parents to receive harmless phone calls about their wards without reacting in fear.
“When I went to Inspect a facility been built in Nursing School Nsukka, on my way back I saw a group of children standing in the road stranded after their vehicle broke down on the road.
“They we’re about eight in number, I parked my car and carried all the children into my bus and while driving them to their different homes I called their parents.
“I was shocked at the level of fear some of these parents expressed when I tried to informs them I helped their children and wanted to bring them home after I saw them waiting as they tried to fix their broken down vehicle.
“When I dialed the number of one the parents and told her I had her daughter and needed to bring her home, immediately i mentioned the daughter, the woman didn’t let me land but started pleading with me not to hurt her daughter that she was the only one she had.
“Similar conversation played out with almost all the other parents o called, I had to beg them to stay calm that I am Peter Obi who picked them up for their safety and Is willing to drive each of them to their respective homes.
“Do you know that some of the parents still refused me coming to drop their wards off for fear of perceived further harm but rather asked me to drop them on the road that they would prefer to pick them up from there on their own.
“This is how bad the security of our nation has deteriorated to, people no longer trust anyone not even their helpers and we bother about 2023 elections. I tell you that is not the main issue we should be talking about now,” he said.
