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The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s criticism of his record on erosion control in Anambra State, insisting that he helped develop the programme currently being used to tackle the environmental challenge.
Obi said the allegation that he failed to address erosion during his eight-year tenure as governor was untrue, adding that he personally initiated discussions with the late former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on the need for a structured intervention.
Tinubu had criticised Obi’s performance while addressing supporters at an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, over the weekend. The President alleged that the former Anambra governor “ran away from erosion” while highlighting environmental projects undertaken in Lagos.
However, Obi challenged the claim during an interview on Rhythm FM Jos on Tuesday, ahead of the NDC town hall meeting in Plateau State.
He said he worked with a former Minister of Environment to develop the erosion-control programme after presenting his proposal to Yar’Adua, who directed the minister to work out the intervention.
“On what the president said while campaigning in Akwa Ibom, it’s not true. I, working with the former minister of environment, developed what they’re using today to fight erosion,” Obi said.
“I went to President Yar’Adua, made a suggestion to him. He called the minister and said he should go and develop it.”
Obi governed Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, when several communities faced severe erosion, which damaged homes, roads and other infrastructure.
The former governor also defended his decision to visit Plateau State and engage residents ahead of political rallies, saying political leaders should first understand the problems confronting the people before presenting their programmes.
He identified insecurity in parts of the North-Central region as a major concern, insisting that Nigerians must be able to return to their communities, conduct businesses and access their farms without fear of attacks.
Obi said his administration, if elected, would prioritise education, healthcare and insurance coverage for vulnerable Nigerians, describing access to quality education and healthcare as essential to national development.
“Unless children go to school without fear, unless parents go to farms without fear, we don’t have a country,” he said.
“You cannot stay in a developing country and a developing world if you have poor health accessibility and poor education accessibility. Education and health are the foundation for development. I will invest in them.”
