By John Ikani
Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has vowed that he will “destroy the structure” that has kept Nigerians in poverty if he emerges as the nation’s next president.
Obi gave the assurance on Monday at the Chatham House where he presented his policy framework as part of his manifesto if he is elected President in February.
According to the former Governor of Anambra State, the “structure” currently in Nigeria is that of criminality and has impoverished the West African country.
The 61-year-old businessman lamented that the country is faced with “alarming” insecurity that has led to the loss of many lives and property, a significant decline in food and economic output, immense mental trauma, and in some cases contributed to disaffection with the “Nigerian project.”
“The economy is in crisis with a troubling debt profile worsened by oil theft of proportions once hard to imagine,” Obi said. “Two economic recessions in six years and lamentable power sector have significantly constrained manufacturing and social life.
“The Nigerian state is captive to an elite gang-up and a rental political economy that concentrate power in the hands of those who came to power and influence mainly through their own contrivances and influence, rather than the affirmation of the people and therefore do not have the incentive to serve the people.
“Even after exploiting the ethnic and religious cleavages, sentiments to ascend to political power, the very people on whose sentiments they grab power often become the primary victims of such political fraud that has rendered Nigeria a failing state with worsening leadership crisis.”
The LP standard bearer who went on to lament Nigeria’s status as the poverty capital of the world, stressed that Nigerian youths are rooting for him due to leadership failure that has diminished opportunities in the country.
He argued that youths who are frustrated and unhappy with the status quo and diminished opportunities in Nigeria in an age of globalization, have decided to take destiny in their own hands by registering to vote next month.
According to him, the development saw Nigeria’s electoral umpire “register more than 12 million new voters with many more complaining to register but unable to do so due to INEC deadline.”
Obi argued that things would change if he is voted into power through reengineering of the structure and new policies to grow the economy and create employment.
