Get Guardian on Google…Says Tinubu Is Tired, Must Go Home
…NDC Fails to Submit Notice of Meeting, Police Fault Party
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, yesterday told Nigerians that they were all candidates and polling agents in the 2027 general elections, urging them to take ownership of the political process.
Obi made the declaration at an NDC town hall meeting held in Oregun, Lagos, where he also condemned an attack on his supporters by suspected thugs.
The hoodlums, reportedly armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones, invaded the venue, disrupted proceedings and sent participants scampering for safety.
Addressing the gathering, Obi assured supporters that their sacrifices and commitment to the country would not be in vain.
“Let me assure you that all your sacrifices and dedication to Nigeria will not be in vain. We want to serve the people, and we must listen to them; they will tell us what they want,” he said.
He explained that the gathering was not a campaign rally but promised that the party would take its campaign to every part of Lagos State.
“Today is not a campaign, but let me assure you that we will campaign in every part of Lagos State. Lagos is important to us; Lagos is the mainstay of our economy, but today, Lagos is not working to its maximum capacity. We want Lagos to power Nigeria. We want Nigeria to work, and Kwankwaso and I are committed to uniting Nigeria,” Obi said.
Outlining his security and economic agenda, Obi said a government led by him and Rabiu Kwankwaso would tackle insecurity, corruption, unemployment and the country’s electricity challenges.
“Under Kwankwaso and me, if you kidnap schoolchildren and run into the bush, we will be in the bush with you. People will be free to travel to any part of Nigeria. We will fight corruption to a standstill and stop people from stealing public money.
“Nigeria will generate, transmit, and distribute at least 10,000MW of electricity in two years under our government, and we will ensure that basic education is compulsory and free,” he declared.
He also promised that every ward in the country would have a functional primary healthcare centre, assuring Nigerians that he would not make excuses if elected president.
Obi further pledged to move the country away from excessive consumption and import dependence towards production, lamenting the closure and relocation of factories that once provided employment for Nigerians.
He said his administration would prioritise policies aimed at reviving industries and creating jobs.
Questioning the management of savings reportedly generated from the removal of fuel subsidy, Obi said the government had claimed to save N15.8 trillion but had yet to demonstrate how the funds had translated into improved living conditions for Nigerians.
“The APC government told us that they have saved N15.8 trillion because they removed the fuel subsidy. We have 18 million out-of-school children, and we want to end that.
“We can remove 30 per cent of them from the streets and put them into school by building 40,000 moderate five-classroom blocks, which will cost us N25 million each, totalling N1 trillion.
“If we subtract that from N15.8 trillion, we have N14.8 trillion remaining, yet where is the money? They have stolen it,” he alleged.
Taking a swipe at President Bola Tinubu, Obi questioned the President’s capacity to continue in office, insisting that the demands of the presidency required energy and constant availability.
“People ask me about our President, and I tell them that the Tinubu of Lagos is not the one who is the president today. The one there today is tired and needs to go home. The work of the President of Nigeria requires energy, and you must be available,” he said.
On the attack at the meeting, Obi, who brought one of the injured supporters to the podium, described the incident as a reflection of the kind of country Nigerians should reject.
“This situation represents the Nigeria we don’t want anymore. I was in Yelwata yesterday (Wednesday), and I saw children without parents, husbands without wives, and wives without husbands. We want to build a Nigeria where such things will never happen again,” he said.
Also speaking, the NDC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Funsho Doherty, commended the supporters for standing their ground despite the attack, describing them as the heroes of the movement.
Doherty said the party’s confidence in winning the 2027 elections was based on popular support rather than control of security institutions.
“Somebody asked me why I think we will win the 2027 elections, and I told them, ‘people’s power.’ The people will deliver the victory; we don’t control the Police, DSS or Army, but the people are with us. Nobody can control the people, and they have decided,” he said.
The NDC House of Representatives candidate for Lagos Mainland, Olatunji Sanni, also described the attack as unfortunate, calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect citizens and prevent further disruptions.
“The attack was a setback, but we recovered. The security agencies need to be on their toes and protect the people,” he said.
