Peter Obi emphasised that he was not in the race to seek political appointment but to fix Nigeria and unite the country
By Chibuzor Nwachukwu, Awka
Former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, on Thursday formally declared his intention to contest for the presidency of Nigeria under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Obi made the declaration in a meeting with Anambra State traditional rulers in Awka, capital city of Anambra.
In turn, the 177 autonomous communities in Anambra State endorsed the former chairman of Fidelity Bank as their candidate.
While addressing the royal fathers, Peter Obi emphasised that he was not in the race to seek political appointment but to fix Nigeria and unite the country.
“I am not contesting because I want political appointment but to serve this country and unite Nigeria and I am the only person that can unite Nigeria.
“The state of our country today is deplorable, the level of insecurity is indeed unfortunate and Nigeria has fallen to the lowest ebb in the committee of nations and I am the only one that can restore security in Nigeria.
“As President, I want security of lives and property in Borno State, in Minna and Niger states, as I want it to be in Onitsha and in Kano or Ekiti State.
“My interest in the presidency of Nigeria is to restore security and revamp our educational sector and also revive the health sector and I have seriously studied our country and I have come to discover that all that we need is to ensure security so that foreign and local investments would thrive in all parts of the country.
“I have come to serve Nigeria and I what it takes to restore the dignity of our country and to unite the country because if there is no unity in Nigeria, we cannot move ahead.
“You all know me very well. I do not need any further introduction. You all know what I did as governor of Anambra State and Anambra is like Nigeria and anybody who is able to manage Anambra State can manage Nigeria and I am calling for your support and I have confidence in you all that you will support me,” Obi told the royal fathers.
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Earlier, Senator Uche Ekwunife noted that those asking questions about which of the Igbo people is eligible to go for president are ignorant of the personality of Mr. Peter Obi.
“When you go to the North, they say that they are waiting for Igbos and the person is Peter Obi, you go to the West, they say they are waiting for Ndigbo and they are waiting for Peter Obi and you go to South South and they say they are waiting for Peter Obi.
“This is a good product and a good product does not need so much stress to sell through and that is Peter Obi and we in Igbo land have no choice but to support our brother because he is the next president of Nigeria.” Ekwunife said.
The Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Obi of Onitsha, who was represented by Igwe Emma Nnabuife of Okija, stated that “the entire monarchs have spoken that Peter Obi is our man for presidency.
“We need no other person but him and the Igbos have endorsed Mr. Peter Obi as our candidate and this is the turn of Ndigbo.”
The high point of the occasion was the traditional prayers by the monarchs who blessed him and prayed for the realisation of his ambition.
