By Ebenezer Ojor
Quintessential two-time governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi has said that unless Nigerians and the leadership move away from what he described as “consumption and sharing mentality” prevalent among Nigerians and the political leadership in the country, the future could remain bleak for all.
Speaking yesterday when he met with leaders and executive of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Owerri, said as Anambra State governor, he undoubtedly demonstrated how fiscal discipline and cuts in the cost of governance can reposition the socio-economic fabrics of a state or nation.
He said he met virtually nothing on ground at the time he took over as Anambra governor, but left billions of naira in the coffers of the state after paying off all arrears of pensions and gratuities including contractual obligations in his eight years tenure. He said the work he did as governor re-positioned Anambra State and transformed it into a leading economy in Nigeria.
Continuing, Obi maintained that the sharing and consumption mentality in the country was responsible for the nation’s mounting debt profile which according to him, has hit tens of trillions of naira in the last ten years. He lamented that waste in the system was seriously depleting the resources available to the nation.
He equally noted that the country was out-borrowing her resources, a situation the 2019 PDP vice presidential candidate said, could make debt-servicing difficult as well as exacerbate the already biting poverty in the land.
On insecurity, Obi made it clear that the solution must begin with concerted, deliberate policies to create .millions of jobs, put food on the table of the masses and ameliorate widening inequalities aside adequately equipping security agencies to do their jobs effectively.
Obi therefore urged delegates to the PDP presidential primary to put the future of their children first and above personal or pecuniary interest.
Also speaking, the director general of Peter Obi presidential campaign, Dr Doyen Okupe said Obi’s exceptional sterling qualities compelled him to give up his own presidential ambition to throw his weight behind the ex-Anambra governor.
Dr Okupe described Obi as the best to lead the country at the moment based on his excellent track record.
“Eastern Nigeria does not come behind any region in terms of achievements in Nigeria… 2023 is the time to end the issues of the past civil war.
“I support the Igbo to lead Nigeria come 2023…Equity, justice fairness demand that the Igbo take over from President Buhari in 2023…”, Okupe maintained.
Responding, a Board of Trustees member of PDP, Chief Alex Obi said the former Anambra State governor remains a diamond shinning above most of his contemporaries in terms of quality leadership in Nigeria ,noting that the rest of the country was looking up to Ndigbo to salvage the nation at this point in time.
Earlier, the state chairman of Imo PDP, Engr Charles Ugwuh said Obi’s dream, wish and aspiration symbolised the dream,wish and aspiration of the Igbo, saying it was possible that the appointed time for Ndigbo has finally come.
Highpoint of the event was special prayers offered for the presidential aspirant by the leaders of the party in the state.
