Peter Obi in US: ‘How Nigeria can be put back on right trajectory’

Presidential candidate, Labour Party, Dr. Peter Obi has said it will take only one visionary leadership and disruptive thinker for Nigeria to be put back on the right trajectory.

He said the Nigeria Diaspora family had the capacity to catapult the nation to greatness, saying that expert assessments were indicative that with proper policy and planning, Nigerians in Diaspora could potentially remit about $60b annually; which would translate to about 14% of the nation’s total GDP.

“In 2021 Nigeria’s foreign direct investment (FDI) was $4.8 billion. This is paltry compared to Diaspora remittances. Therefore, I see Diaspora remittances as the new normal and becoming Nigeria’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).

“I foresee a Diaspora role of infinite possibilities when and if our sons and daughters, elect to deploy their technology, expertise, industrial discipline and experience, to Nigeria for national development and encourage their hosts and friends to invest in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian Diaspora can help to mobilize efforts in the direction of private sector investment. Beyond your sheer financial power, your contributions also include ideas, creativity, and a diverse global network.

“Our vision and mission is to give full expression to our democracy by moving our country from consumption to production,” he said.

According to Obi, in transforming the economy “we intend to make it more productive, thus creating employment and prosperity for millions of youths, reducing poverty in the land, addressing issues of criminality and insecurity.

“Thinking through 2023 and beyond, we must think seriously about a leadership that is imbued with competence, capacity, credibility and commitment. The 4 Cs, will be required to turn Nigeria around.

“We will pursue intangible assets of good governance, rule of law, security of lives and properties; and emphasize patriotism, national interest, and national morale, quality of government, political will and character, which are all complimentary to the other assets. We will ensure that we have these assets in place and stress asset optimization.

“We will tackle insecurity robustly, through an aggressive increase in personnel and equipment and inclusive training of operatives in our security agencies.”

Obi stated that when elected president, his administration would tweak the security architecture, by offering each arm or agency lead in areas where they had comparative advantage.

He said he intended to lay special emphasis on critical infrastructure, especially Power, to ensure a clear measurable increase of 200% of today’s generation, transmission and distribution, within the shortest possible time through public private partnership.

“We will pursue aggressively modalities for raising the national internet penetration, as well as increased contribution of ICT to overall economic growth aid national development.

“Africa will remain the centre piece of our foreign policy. We will improve Nigeria’s diplomatic sphere of influence via peacekeeping, trade, and investment initiatives.

“We will pay particular attention to tackling Nigeria’s myriad domestic challenges, in particular improving governance and promoting national cohesion in as much as an active foreign policy critically depends on a vibrant and peaceful domestic situation,” he added.

Obi said he would rebuild Nigeria’s military power, promote economic growth, and enhance its technological prowess to improve Nigeria’s diplomatic influence in sub-regional, regional and global affairs via peacekeeping activities.

He added that he would proactively reassert Nigeria’s leadership role in African affairs through constructive engagement, using existing sub-regional and regional forums as well as bilateral platforms for dialogue on current and emerging challenges.

“We will aggressively pursue human capital development in the education and health sectors within available resources; with a view to adopting pertinent global best practices in both sectors.

“We will have zero tolerance for corruption; block leakages and cut the cost of governance. Our total commitment to transparency and accountability in government business is the only credible way to achieve limited to zero corruption.

“We will seek to reunite Nigeria through strict adherence to Constitutional provisions on equitable representation in Federal establishments and regenerate a sense of belonging to all citizens through inclusivity and adequate representation of women,” he said.

Obi stated that the review of the Constitution would be part of the overall restructuring Nigerians desire, as it would entail legislative, executive and judicial actions.

“Ultimately the Nigerian people will decide. It will take only one visionary leadership and disruptive thinker for Nigeria to be put back on the right trajectory. I know that with a robust diaspora support we can do it for Nigeria.

“Even though the outlook seems bleak, especially with the present state of insecurity ad parlous economy, things, I am certain that with your avid prayers and contributions in both human and material terms, Nigeria will recover,” he said.