Obi accuses Tinubu of intimidating Opposition parties over 2027 polls
The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of intimidating the oopposition parties in Nigeria.
According to the former Anambra State Governor, the Nigerian political space under Tinubu's administration was designed not to accommodate opposition.
Obi, who made the allegations during his appearance on Arise Television Prime Time, described the act as undemocratic.
The former labour party flag bearer for instance blame the president for the crisis rocking the Rivers State.
He also accused Tinubu of being the face behind the political turmoils in other opposition parties especially the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as Labour Party.
“The disarray in the LP is caused by the Federal Government. Yes, I am in the Labour Party. If anything changes, I will let you know.
“If the government is democratic, all these things will work. You have to say you are democratic, practice it, and believe it, whether it works for you or not. What is happening in Nigeria can be turned around with a competent leader.”
“There is no democracy without a functional legislature and an independent judiciary. There is no freedom of speech as people are in detention for what they say. I am also harassed every day.
“What happened in Rivers State was unfortunate as some people made the state ungovernable for political reasons and interests. The declaration of a state of emergency impacts negatively on the little inkling of democracy that we have.
“The Nigerian political space is designed not to have opposition. People say look at South Africa, they have a presidential system like ours. But the difference is they allow their opposition to thrive. There is a proportional representation of the opposition in the legislature and this makes the opposition thrive.
“In those countries, you cannot cross from one party to another without consequences. You lose your seat if you do so. That is why we want a change in the Constitution so as to build a viable system. If I were president, I would make sure the country is democratic and the opposition thrives. Parties should function the way they should. There is a need to fix this democracy. Musa Yar’ Adua started it until his demise,” Obi said.
On vying again for the presidency in 2027, Obi said his concern in discussing an alliance with other political forces is to save Nigeria from the brink.
He stressed that he was not desperate to wrest power to become president but to join forces to realise a Nigeria that works.
“I am reluctant to talk about 2027. Yes, I am part of the coalition. But whatever alignment must discuss the future of the country. We must discuss doing it to invest in education not just to wrest power. We are talking about working together to save Nigeria. I am not desperate to be President but to see Nigeria work,” Obi said.
Obi further stated that he is working with Atiku and others for the benefit of Nigeria.
“Elections are won and lost by the votes of the people. All these things people are talking about are because we are not in a democracy. We are talking about working together for the sake of the country. That is why I am not desperate to be President, but I am desperate to see Nigeria work.
“It was all these alliances that brought Nigeria to where we are today. Because people were blinded. Instead of seeing what they will do to make the country work and make it productive, they are focused on wrestling power. What are we going to use the power to do?
“I ran in 2023 because I wanted to do something different. By now, you would have seen something different in education. I would have even visited schools. In the health sector, we have over 70% of primary healthcare not functional. I want Nigeria to know it is about their country. So many Nigerians today don’t know where the next meal will come from. So, the people have to know that this man can do it.
