PETER OBI: NORTH WILL CELEBRATE MY PRESIDENCY, ALLIANCE WITH ATIKU MUST BE PARTY-TO-PARTY
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Fintan C. Obimma
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said the northern region of Nigeria would celebrate his emergence as President in 2027, arguing that he understands the challenges confronting the region and has a clear strategy to address them.
Obi made the declaration while speaking on his political plans ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly his proposed approach to tackling poverty, agriculture and the broader economic challenges facing northern Nigeria.
According to the NDC presidential candidate, the North possesses a major economic asset that, if properly developed, could significantly transform the lives of its people.
He identified agriculture as the region's greatest comparative advantage, stressing that the sector could serve as a foundation for job creation, wealth generation and poverty reduction.
Obi said his administration would pursue a different approach to fighting poverty, insisting that the problem could not be solved through corrupt or unsustainable interventions.
He also argued that the worsening economic hardship experienced by many Nigerians in the North could not be attributed solely to the removal of fuel subsidy.
Rather, he said several other structural and economic factors had contributed to the region's growing poverty and underdevelopment.
“If there is one president the North will celebrate, it is me,” Obi said, explaining that his understanding of the region's problems would inform his approach to governance.
He maintained that his administration would seek to unlock the productive capacity of northern Nigeria, particularly through agriculture, while implementing policies aimed at reducing poverty through legitimate and sustainable means.
Obi Clarifies Position on Atiku Alliance
The NDC presidential candidate also addressed ongoing discussions about a possible political alliance involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi said any alliance between himself and Atiku could not be based on a personal arrangement because both men were candidates representing separate political parties.
“I am a candidate representing a political party, and Atiku Abubakar is also a candidate representing a political party. Any alliance must be between parties, not between individuals,” he stated.
He explained that neither he nor Atiku could independently withdraw from the presidential race simply on the basis of a personal understanding.
According to him, both candidacies are backed by political structures and any decision to form an alliance would therefore require the involvement and agreement of the respective political parties.
Obi consequently dismissed the notion that either candidate would personally step down for the other without a collective political decision.
Obi Rejects Link to 1966 Coup
The NDC candidate also responded to attempts to associate him with the historical events surrounding Nigeria's first military coup in 1966.
Obi rejected such claims, pointing out that he was only about four years old when the coup occurred.
“You cannot hold the events of the 1966 coup against me when I was barely four (4) years old,” he said.
The 1966 coup remains one of the defining events in Nigeria's political history, setting the stage for a prolonged period of military intervention in the country's governance.
Obi's comments come as political parties and presidential hopefuls intensify consultations, mobilisation and alliance discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
With economic hardship, poverty, regional development and political coalition-building expected to remain major issues in the election, the NDC presidential candidate has continued to position his campaign around economic transformation, accountability and productive investment.
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