Following reports that he was against a coalition of political parties coming together to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027, Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has clarified his position, saying he will support any coalition that has the best interest of Nigerians at heart.
His words on his X handle on Tuesday: “I have observed that my honest interview yesterday (Monday) was misquoted by many media outlets, creating a false narrative that misrepresents my position. Let me set the record straight:
“I am not against coalition, in truth, I am for it not for power grab but to position Nigeria for greatness.
“I have not, and will never, advocate for any coalition or alliance that does not prioritise the welfare and progress of the ordinary Nigerian. Any discussion about governance must centre on what it means for the everyday Nigerian, how it will address critical issues such as access to quality healthcare, and education, and pulling people out of poverty.
“Too often in our nation’s history, individuals and groups have come together solely for the purpose of taking power for power’s sake. Such endeavours, devoid of genuine purpose and vision, have only deepened our challenges, leaving the ordinary Nigerian to bear the brunt of bad governance. This is what I stand firmly against.
“Leadership must be about service, not self-interest. It must be about building a nation where opportunities abound for all, where justice and equity are non-negotiable, and where governance works for the people, not against them.
“As I have always maintained, the New Nigeria is possible. But it requires us to change the way we think about power. It is not about grabbing it; it is about using it responsibly to transform lives and secure a brighter future for generations to come.
Speaking with newsmen at the sideline of a two-day National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria on Monday, Obi had told journalists, the former governor of Anambra State stated: “Well, for me, what is important is let’s discuss Nigeria. Whether we are going to do coalition… let’s talk about the future of the country, but often we abandon the country and what we need to do and talk about power grab.
“I’m not interested in any coalition for purpose of taking power. It is about discussing Nigeria. “How do we care about securing the Nigerians?
“How do we care about the common person in Nigeria? “How do we care about our children being in school? That is the most important thing for now.”
“That’s what we need to remove, because what you’re doing is that you’re encouraging stealing of public money.
“Because if I steal it and use it to win election, then I get all the power and everything, including immunity not to be prosecuted. So we must stop it. That is what driving the stealing.”
On his part, while presenting his key note address, on the theme of the discourse, “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway To Good Governance And Political Integrity,” former Vice President of Republic of Ghana, and Presidential candidate of Ghana’s New Patriotic Party in last general election, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, identified bastardization of state institutions as a big threat to democracy.
His words “Mr. Chairman, one of the most important determinants of a flourishing democracy is the quality of institutions; institutions capable of guaranteeing rights, including property rights, and checking wanton abuse of power.
“These institutions include the Independent Election Management bodies, the Judiciary, the Ombudsman, the Police, other law enforcement agencies, and many others…
“Celebrated Economists like Dani Rodrick, Daron Acemolgu, and others, have come to a firm conclusion that, when it comes to the determinants of growth, the quality of institutions towers above everything else.
“Unfortunately, whilst the culture of peacefully choosing leaders is being entrenched, these institutions are becoming weak and endangered. ”
He also identified growing poverty in the West African sub-region and Africa as a threat to democracy, noting
that the electorate are beginning to lose faith in representative government.
“Mr. Chairman, one of the biggest threats to democracy today is what I call the Next Meal. Before I make my point, I need to reecho the words of one of Africa’s greatest sons, the distinguished Nelson Mandela, to wit, ‘As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.’
“Ladies and gentlemen, democracy must be a means to an end. The best democracy is the one that delivers public goods and services effectively and efficiently and creates opportunities for citizens whilst making conscious efforts to leave no one behind.
“For Sub-Saharan Africa, the data suggests that we do not have an option to do nothing. In 2024, the World Bank estimated that two-thirds of the world’s population in extreme poverty live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Back home, the World Bank’s 2024 review reveals that more than half of Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty.
“For Nigeria, and indeed much of Sub-Saharan Africa, our work is cut out for us. We need to take decisive actions to demonstrate that to govern is to advance the interest and welfare of the people.
“We need to reconfigure our economic systems, processes, and institutions in a manner that prioritizes the next meal for majority of our people. For far too long, the focus has been on ticking the boxes on democratic institutions much to the neglect of what those institutions have been able to produce for the ordinary citizen.
“The person who is unable to afford the next ‘Eba’ meal is unlikely to appreciate any data on democratic progress.
“Ladies and gentlemen, there is growing apprehension among the citizenry about the relevance and usefulness of government institutions, with many people losing faith in these institutions.
“This is concerning and portends a bleak future for democratic sustenance if we do not rise to the occasion, and quickly too.
“For our democracy to remain relevant and sustainable, actors need to ensure that citizens have confidence in the democratic system to address their needs and concerns, particularly basic needs, which I call the next meal principle.”
