Insecurity: Displaced Persons Must Return To Their Homes – Obi

The Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to unite Nigeria, tackle insecurity and lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty if elected president in 2027. He also declared that his administration will ensure that displaced persons across the country would return to their ancestral communities.

Obi made the pledge during a town hall meeting with supporters in Jos, Plateau State on Tuesday where he outlined his vision for the country, insisting that national unity, security, economic recovery and accountable leadership would form the foundation of his administration.

He said, “Our number one commitment is to unite the Federal Republic of Nigeria because today we have no unity. We are divided along tribal and religious lines. That should not be. We are Nigerians.”

“Number two is to secure Nigeria. It is our duty to ensure that Nigerians live in safety, in a country where people are no longer killed daily. I assure you that no mother will continue to cry over the loss of her children. No woman should experience the pain of losing her husband, and no father should suffer the agony of losing his wife.”

On the plight of displaced persons across the country, Obi said his administration would prioritise the safe return of Nigerians to their ancestral communities.

“If any Nigerian remains in an Internally Displaced Persons camp, we have failed. Once one Nigerian is in an IDP camp, the entire Nigeria is in an IDP camp. People must return to their homes,” he said.

He also vowed to strengthen the country’s security architecture and ensure that kidnappers and other criminal elements were decisively confronted.

“Nobody will kidnap two children and disappear into the bush. If you kidnap children and go into the bush, you will not be alone there. We will come after you,” he declared.

He said his decision to engage communities ahead of the commencement of campaigns was informed by the need to listen to Nigerians and develop solutions based on their needs.

“When you want to serve, you must listen to the people. When we come for campaigns, we only talk and we don’t listen to the people. We have decided that leadership must be demand-driven,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor recalled his visits to Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Mangu and other troubled communities in Plateau, describing the security situation as unacceptable.

He said his presidential ambition was driven by the desire to address the plight of Nigerians, particularly victims of insecurity, displaced persons and families who had lost loved ones to violence.

“If I have one person in an IDP camp, it means we are all in an IDP camp. I am competing because I want to know how we talk to that mother whose child was killed, that husband who lost a wife and that woman who lost a husband. Who is going to listen to their cries?” he asked.

On the 2027 general election, Obi urged Nigerians to take responsibility for protecting their votes, insisting that electoral accountability must begin with citizens.

“In the next election, every voter is an agent. Don’t vote and go home. Take that day as the one day you are giving to Nigeria as a patriotic Nigerian.”

“Prepare yourself with your breakfast, lunch and dinner, and remain there. Your vote must be counted, recorded and transmitted. Nobody should give you any excuse. It is your vote, and we want this election to be about the future of Nigeria,” he said.

Obi said his economic agenda would focus on moving Nigeria from a consumption-based economy to a production-driven one, noting that increased local production would create employment and improve living standards.

“Our determination is to unite Nigeria, secure Nigeria and pull people out of poverty. That is why we said we are going to move Nigeria from consumption to production.”

“By increasing production, we will increase employment. Today, farmers cannot go to their farms because of insecurity. Companies operating in Plateau State have collapsed because of insecurity. When we unite Nigeria and secure it, we will create opportunities,” he said.

Addressing concerns about access to funding for small businesses, Obi said his experience in the financial sector had equipped him with the knowledge required to support entrepreneurs and stimulate economic activities.

“I know what it means to access funding. I have been a director and chairman of a financial institution, and I understand how banks operate.”

“We will ensure that a portion of credit available in the banking sector goes to small businesses to enable them to grow and create jobs,” he said.

On corruption, the presidential candidate promised to ensure that public resources were deployed for the benefit of Nigerians, stressing that accountability would be a major principle of his administration.

“I have managed public money, so when I say I am going to fight corruption, I know what I am talking about.”

“I will fight corruption. Public money must be used for public good. Today, public money is wrongly being used, and that must change,” he stated.

He further promised massive investment in education, lamenting that Nigeria had about 18 million out-of-school children.

“We want our children to go back to school. We want our schools to work. The more educated you are as a nation, the more developed you become.”

“We will build new classrooms, employ teachers and ensure that our schools function properly. We cannot continue to allow millions of Nigerian children to remain outside the classroom,” he said.

On healthcare, Obi said the country must strengthen its primary healthcare system to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

“Today, if you are sick in Nigeria, you go to church because there are no functional hospitals in many communities.”

“The consequence is that people are dying. Pregnant mothers are dying, children are dying, and we have very high infant and maternal mortality rates.”

“The foundation of access to healthcare is primary healthcare. We must strengthen our primary healthcare centres and ensure that every community has access to quality medical services,” he said.

He also expressed concern over Nigeria’s rising poverty, infant mortality and growing number of out-of-school children, arguing that the country had the resources to address the challenges through investments in education, healthcare and agriculture.

Obi further stressed the need for government to demonstrate compassion by prioritising vulnerable Nigerians, including poor people, elderly citizens and persons living with disabilities.

“For a government to exist, it must care for the vulnerable. It must care for the poor and those living with disabilities.”

“If we don’t care for the poor, we are not caring for ourselves. That is why we are holding these town hall meetings. We want to listen to the people, take notes of their concerns and understand their expectations,” he said.

Earlier, during a courtesy visit to the Plateau State Traditional Council in Jos, ahead of the town hall meeting, the presidential candidate said Nigeria could not make meaningful progress while citizens continued to live in fear.

He maintained that Nigeria needed competent, committed and compassionate leadership capable of responding promptly to the challenges confronting citizens.

“We want a government that has the capacity to do the job. We want a government that has compassion, a government that hears the cries of mothers who have lost their children.”

“We want a government that is committed to the future of Nigeria. Commitment is very important, and that is what we are going to offer Nigerians,” Obi added.

Responding, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, urged politicians and Nigerians to ensure that political activities did not aggravate the country’s security challenges.

He said, “We want to appeal to all politicians and all Nigerians that we should not allow politics to worsen our situation. We already have insecurity, and we must be determined to live with each other in peace and with respect for one another.”

The traditional ruler also prayed for divine guidance in the emergence of a leader who would govern the country effectively and restore its greatness, urging politicians to promote peace throughout the electioneering period.