Presidency not retirement home, says Obi

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, said, on Thursday, that the country’s topmost office was not a retirement home to be occupied by people in their 70s and above, but a place meant for young and agile people with a passion for the country’s development.

Obi, who said that he was the only young person among candidates of the four leading political parties in the February 25 election, said it was the turn of the Nigerian youth to take back the country by occupying the exalted office and as well others.

The LP flagbearer, who spoke in Ado Ekiti during his campaign in Ekiti State, harped on “character, competence, commitment and compulsion as necessary in the election”, saying, “this election must be based on competence.

“We want people who are competent, who understand the problem of our country. Our people are dying of poverty, we want people that will fight poverty. The LP government is going to fight poverty. I am committed to building a new Nigeria. Let nobody tell you it is his turn, I am not contesting based on turn, I am contesting as a Nigerian who is the most qualified.”

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While canvassing Ekiti people’s vote for him to emerge as the next president, he told the youth, “It is not a retirement home. We want you to take power, our government will be full of young people, youth and women, we want to give power back to you.

“Vote for Peter Obi and the vice presidential candidate, Ahmed Datti, and see how Nigeria will change. I and Datti are qualified. We have the education, the physical energy, the commitment, the passion.

“The LP government will secure and unite this country. Today, there is no security in the country, we want to secure and unite the country. Today, people are hungry in the country, there are no jobs, there are no jobs for our youths.

“What we want to do is to ensure that we move the country forward from consumption to production. If we start producing in this country, there will be jobs, our youths will have jobs, we will export, then the value of the naira will be strong against the currencies of the United States, United Kingdom and others”.

Ekiti LP Chairman, Odunayo Okunade, in his speech, advised Ekiti voters against vote-selling, saying, “Vote for Obi who is competent, tested and trustworthy to eradicate poverty, hunger, corruption and insecurity in Nigeria.”

The LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, who thanked the party supporters for coming out en mass to support the party, urged them to vote for Obi in the February 25 presidential election, “because he is reliable, dedicated, committed and ready to fight for the survival of the youths and Nigerians.”