By Dennis Okechukwu
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for greater national unity and urgent action to address insecurity, poverty and unemployment in Nigeria.
Obi made the call during a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, ahead of his town-hall engagements in Sokoto State.
Obi was accompanied by his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and other members of his political team.
The visit also provided an opportunity for Obi and his delegation to condole with the Sultan over the recent death of the Sardauna of Sokoto.
In his remarks, Obi said Nigeria urgently needed to unite and strengthen its security architecture while creating jobs, reducing poverty and rebuilding citizens’ confidence in the country.
The former Anambra State governor said his visit to the Sultan was also significant because of the monarch’s long-standing relationship with him.
According to Obi, the Sultan recalled that he had known him for almost 46 years, dating back to 1980 when Obi was a first-year student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Obi said the Sultan maintained that leadership was a responsibility bestowed by Almighty Allah and that those entrusted with leadership would ultimately be held accountable for how they exercised it.
The presidential candidate said the Sultan identified security, poverty and employment as three critical priorities requiring urgent attention in Nigeria.
Obi also quoted the Sultan as emphasising that Nigeria’s diversity of tribes, languages and faiths was part of God’s creation and should be regarded as a source of strength rather than division.
According to Obi, he and his political associates do not seek to Islamise or Christianise Nigerians, but want to build a country where citizens can live safely, prosper and have a genuine sense of belonging.
“We do not seek to Islamise or Christianise anyone. We seek to build a Nigeria where every citizen can live safely, prosper, and have a genuine sense of belonging,” Obi said.
He prayed for continued blessings for the Sultan, the people of Sokoto State and Nigeria.
The former governor is in Sokoto as part of engagements with citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.