Peter Obi: I have what it takes to unite Nigeria

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has dismissed claims that he would divide Nigeria if elected president, insisting that his leadership would foster national unity and heal longstanding divisions across the country.

Speaking during an interview on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Obi rejected comments by former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff questioning his ability to unite Nigeria, saying his record of humanitarian interventions and inclusive leadership spoke louder than political rhetoric.

“I will unite Nigeria, and I know what it takes to unite Nigeria,” the former Anambra State governor declared.

Obi said his commitment to national cohesion had been demonstrated through years of engagement with communities across the country, particularly in northern Nigeria, where he said he had visited states affected by insurgency, flooding and communal crises.

He recalled travelling to Borno State during the early years of the Boko Haram insurgency to condole with Sheriff following the killing of his brother, describing the visit as evidence of his willingness to stand with Nigerians in difficult times.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate also cited visits to internally displaced persons’ camps, donations to victims of disasters and support for education, healthcare and agricultural projects in states including Borno, Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Sokoto and Benue.

According to Obi, he has funded boreholes in several northern communities, supported the Faculty of Agriculture at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto and continued to assist Almajiri schools and a School of Nursing in Bauchi.

He maintained that no contemporary Nigerian politician had travelled as extensively across the country by road, arguing that such interactions had deepened his understanding of the nation’s diverse peoples and challenges.

Obi said an administration under his leadership would focus on healing divisions rooted in Nigeria’s past while building an inclusive future where citizens are judged not by ethnicity or religion but by their shared identity as Nigerians.

“A Peter Obi presidency will commence the healing and the unity that is required to stabilise and build a better Nigeria,” he said.

Responding to allegations that he had made anti-North remarks, Obi described the claims as false, noting that many of his closest associates, including his aide-de-camp during his tenure as governor, were northerners and Muslims.

He added that his administration in Anambra sponsored Muslim pilgrims to Hajj annually and that all his cooks throughout his eight years in office were from northern Nigeria.

Obi urged political leaders to shift attention from personality-driven attacks to addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including poverty, insecurity, education and healthcare.

“I will never divide Nigeria. I will unite Nigeria. I will show love to every part of Nigeria and make sure things are done differently because I’m going to involve everybody,” he said.