By Our Reporter
e Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi has described the many challenges facing Nigeria as surmountable with right and purposive leadership. He was speaking on Friday, at the public presentation of the compendium on him entitled: “Many Voices, One Perspective” at Finotel Hotel, Awka.
Obi who reiterated his belief that what Nigeria needs now is “conscious, planned and aggressive transition from consumption to production” said he was touched when, a few days ago, he watched the news with pictures of how United Arab Emirates plans to harvest their first set of wheat grown in a purely desert setting through the aid of modern technology.
Obi who described as “ disheartening”, the recent report from the United Nations World Food Programme(WEP), to the effect that Nigeria, especially Borno, Yobe and Adamawa would be seriously affected by hunger this year said that such news were discomforting to him against the possibilities of Nigeria which our leaders have failed to utilize.
Employing statistics, Obi said that the combined square kilometre of land mass of the three states mentioned, namely, Borno( 70.9 sq km); Yobe (45.5 sq km); and Adamawa( 36.5 sq km) which amounts to 152.9sq were far greater than that of Isreal which is just 22.1 sq km and yet Isreal feeds itself and export excess to the world. Obi said that with right leadership, which was his commitment, that Nigeria would do as well.
Commenting on the political development in Nigeria, Obi said he would be the President of Nigeria in the fullness of time, always supposing that the judiciary would do the right thing. He thanked the Obidient Family for their belief in him and appealed to them to see apologies to the elders now and then, as in constance with the African understanding of respect for the elders or our fathers even when they might be wrong.
“In our journey to New Nigeria, I am very committed, I am not on transit to anywhere. I have committed to the struggle for a better nation, no matter how long it takes,” Obi said.
In his own remarks, the Royal Father of the day, HRM, Igwe Alfred Achebe described Obi as “Man of the Destiny”. He said one of the things that distinguished Obi from other politicians is his efforts to stay on the truth and do the right things, and insistence that the right things must always be done no matter the time it takes. He commended Obi for consistently following the path of truth, integrity and transparency.
Speaking at the event, the Senator-elect for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Sen. Victor Umeh, eulogized Obi as one of the greatest Nigerians to ever live and impact many lives positively. Describing him as development-oriented, he said there is no serious political discussion in the country without Obi being at the centre.
Earlier in his opening remark, the lead Editor of the book, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna thanked Nigerians for their faith in Obi. She said that the public presentations of the book was another way of supporting Obi’s political journey towards the Presidency.
The traditional ruler of Agulu, Obi’s town, Igwe Innocent Obodoakor described Obi as a worthy son of Agulu whose pedigree speaks for itself.
About 25 traditional rulers and many politicians, well wishers and numerous “Obidients” attended the event.