2027: TINUBU LACKS ENERGY, COMPETENCE TO RUN NIGERIA

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By ‘Sefiu Ajape

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his performance in office, alleging that the President has spent more than 260 days outside Nigeria but claims he cannot spare 36 days to campaign across the country’s states.

Obi made the remarks on Thursday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, during a political meeting, while reacting to Tinubu’s indication that the demands of governance might prevent him from campaigning in all 36 states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Declaring himself the leading contender for the 2027 presidency, the former Anambra State governor questioned Tinubu’s competence and physical capacity to lead the country, urging him to step aside.

“President Tinubu has stayed over 260 days out of Nigeria, yet he cannot spend up to 36 days going around Nigeria to tell the people what he has been doing for the past three years,” Obi said.

“He does not have the competence to run Nigeria; he does not have the energy to run Nigeria. He should pack his things, go home, and rest.”

Challenging the President to account for his administration’s performance, Obi urged him to visit Ebonyi State and explain his stewardship to Nigerians.

“I want President Tinubu to come to Abakaliki to tell the people what he has done in the past three years,” Obi stated.

“I want him to come to Abakaliki to tell you what he used the money he has been borrowing to do, and to tell Nigerians what he has used their money for.”

Addressing concerns about political divisions in the South-East, Obi urged voters not to base their support for him on ethnic or regional affiliations, but on his qualifications and capacity to lead.

“Let nobody divide the South East. I don’t want the people of Ebonyi to vote for me because I am from the South East or because I am Igbo,” he declared.

“My dear people, I want you to vote for me because I am qualified to be the President of this country, and because I am the leading candidate.”

Outlining his agenda if elected, Obi pledged to declare a national state of emergency in seven critical areas: security, hunger, education, healthcare, corruption, power and national unity.

“We must unite this country. Our pride should not be based on ethnic considerations.

“We will operate the Federal Character principle transparently for all public roles, ensuring every section of Nigeria is included,” he added.

On security, Obi promised decisive action against insecurity, particularly the abduction of schoolchildren, and pledged to strengthen security agencies to protect citizens.

“We will declare an emergency on the security of lives and property and deal with insecurity decisively. If kids are in school and someone abducts them into the bush, we will not leave them alone; we will equip our security agencies to defend our people.”

He also vowed to intensify the fight against corruption, insisting that public funds must be used for the benefit of citizens and that offenders would face prosecution, regardless of their positions.

“I will fight corruption like nobody has fought it before. Public money must be used for public good; nobody will steal our money again. If you embezzle public funds, you will go to jail, starting from the President.”

On education and food security, Obi cited the number of out-of-school children and the country’s agricultural potential as areas requiring urgent intervention.

“We have over 18 million children out of school, and we must reduce that number drastically. On hunger, we have vast arable land; our farmers must safely return to their farms to cultivate food for local consumption and export.”

He further promised to improve access to healthcare by ensuring that every political ward across the country had functional health facilities.

“We will ensure functional healthcare in every political ward across Nigeria. We have the resources required to achieve this.”