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The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged politicians and his critics to shift attention from personal attacks to the pressing challenges facing Nigeria, insisting that poverty, hunger and insecurity deserve greater national attention than discussions about him.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Obi said the country was grappling with deepening economic hardship and worsening insecurity, yet political discourse had become centred on his personality instead of finding solutions to the nation’s problems.
“Calling me names doesn’t make me feel anything. But they are abandoning issues we are supposed to discuss and discussing what I think is irrelevant,” Obi said.
He argued that Nigeria’s worsening poverty and food crisis should dominate public debate, noting that millions of Nigerians were struggling to survive.
“We have a situation where over 180 million Nigerians are in poverty, and the World Bank has warned of severe hunger. These are the critical issues we should be discussing, not discussing Peter Obi. I am not the problem of Nigeria,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor said critics should concentrate on how to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians by tackling hunger, unemployment and insecurity instead of focusing on political personalities.
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“If they want to discuss anything, let them discuss how to pull our people out of poverty, out of hunger, and secure the country,” he added.
Obi also dismissed claims that he was desperate to become Nigeria’s president, saying his overriding ambition was to see the country function effectively regardless of who occupies the office.
“I’ve always said I’m not desperate to be Nigerian president. I’m desperate to see Nigeria work. So if it’s working, I’ll support whatever makes it work,” he said.
He maintained that his decision to contest the presidency was driven by his belief that he could unite the country and provide effective leadership, stressing that his vision was to build a Nigeria where every citizen has equal opportunities regardless of background.
“I’m contesting because I believe that I will fix it. I will unite the country. I’m able to do it to show an example of what is possible,” Obi stated.
