I’ll run inclusive, reform-driven govt if elected in 2027 – Labour Party presidential candidate

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Dr Chibuzor Okereke, has promised to run an inclusive government driven by reforms, innovation, if elected in the 2027 presidential election.

Okereke who made the pledge while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series in Abuja on Sunday, urged citizens to believe in Nigeria again.

He said that Labour Party had overcome all its internal crisis and was ready to pursue its mantra: “Nigerians First, Believe Again.”

If elected president, Okereke pledged to strengthen all the critical sectors for a more result-driven government.

He explained that his choice of a female vice-presidential running mate in the person of Hajia Bintu Konto, was a pointer to an inclusive government.

“The message is simple. This is a Nigerian first project; Believe again. Our plan is to change the mindset of young people whose key plan is how to travel abroad. We will make them believe again in the Nigerian project.

“Whether you are in the military or in the police, you are at the forefront of the war fighting, the country will care for you; that is the Nigeria we envision.

“You are a woman who feels under-represented; a youth who feels social injustice and high inequality; a pensioner who feels abandoned after serving or a normal person working hard who wants to just get ahead, I ask you to believe again in the Nigerian project.

“This is because we are going to run a government that will collapse ethnic considerations and geo-political expression, and focus on optimising the capacity of the Nigerian people for merit-based opportunities,” he said.

Okereke told NAN that should he emerge president, he would not only be the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, but Commander-in-Chief of reforms, innovation and building a just society.

According to him, Labour Party is the only party that is not focused on power and control of resources, but on the desire to focus on delivering the demands of Chapter 2 of Nigerian Constitution.

Okereke said that there would be devolution of powers to states and local governments for effective delivery of dividends of democracy to all Nigerians.

He said that institutions such as Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), among others, would be strengthened and transferred to local authorities.

The presidential candidate also said that all agric institutions in Abuja would be relocated to their areas of comparative advantage, while some would be domiciled in universities for necessary research.

He condemned the present arrangement whereby some federal government establishments would be involved in executing projects in remote communities from Abuja, a template which he said had never worked.