Obi tells Tinubu to travel on Nigerian roads to experience their bad condition
Bola Tinubu should take responsibility as a leader by addressing critical issues firsthand, for instance, he needs to travel by road to experience the condition of the highways and see the urgency in fixing them, Peter Obi has told the President.
Obi made the pitch at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, citing how, when he was Anambra Governor, he persuaded former President Olusegun Obasanjo to take a trip with him from Awka to Onitsha on a federal highway which led to Obasanjo quickly approving the repair of the road which was dilapidated at the time.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) reacted by warning Obi not to incite Nigerians against Tinubu, particularly with his claim that the President has failed to address economic and security troubles in his first 18 months in charge.
“You can take short trips, for example, from Calabar in Cross River State to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, a distance of less than 100 km, or from Benin in Edo State to Warri in Delta State,” Obi pressed Tinubu
“I recall taking President Olusegun Obasanjo on a trip from Awka to Onitsha on a federal highway when I was the Governor of Anambra State.
“That journey prompted him to immediately approve the reconstruction of parts of the road by the Anambra State government, with subsequent reimbursement by the federal government. Such actions are immensely valuable.
“Make both impromptu and planned visits to our tertiary institutions, where our children and future leaders are being trained, are essential to familiarise yourself with the available infrastructure, facilities, and amenities.
“These visits will provide valuable insight into whether the resources of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund are being utilised optimally and what is needed to sustain the education system.”
On political matters, Obi dismissed speculation about a merger with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
His clarification came two days after 2023 NNPP presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso denied knowledge of any such pact.
Obi stressed that he has no formal agreement with any political party but rallied all lovers of democracy to unite and oust the ruling APC in 2027.
However, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka issued a statement in which he accused Obi of hypocrisy, saying his New Year message is “misleading and appears intended to score cheap political points.”
Morka said the claim portrays Obi as a leading “doomsayer” at a time when all indicators show the country is rebounding in significant measure across all sectors.
“In reality, 18 months later, the economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has shown a steady record of progress,” Morka claimed.
“Despite these and other initial beneficial outcomes of ongoing reforms, the administration is doubling its effort to ensure their fullest benefits for the transformation of our country.
“It is a thing of irony that Obi, who now arrogates to himself to be omniscient and philosopher’s stone, when it comes to our nation’s challenges, left no record of significant achievement, let alone transformation of any kind, in his eight-year tenure as Governor of Anambra State.
“Like his co-travellers in the PDP, Obi’s obsessive pessimism and endless but futile effort to incite public outrage against the administration is borne out of the realization that Tinubu is unwittingly cementing their political irrelevance by his visionary and full-throttle reform.
“Under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Tinubu is dutifully turning our nation’s fortunes around. We urge Nigerians to remain confident of better days ahead.”
– The PUNCH.
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