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Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has placed uniting Nigeria as his top priority for robust human capital development.
Writing on his X handle to unveil his vision for a “productive and prosperous Nigeria” titled: ”My Vision for a Productive and Prosperous Nigeria. When I decided to contest for the office of President of Nigeria, I pledged to place Nigeria on the path of unity and national transformation.
“Now, as the NDC candidate, I will, in the coming weeks and months, provide insights into the roadmap that I am confident will help curb abuse in government, halt the decline in the quality of life of Nigerians at all levels, and usher in an era of unity, peace, sustained progress, and prosperity.
“This vision is anchored on a commitment to unity, inclusion, social justice, equity, and the freedom of every citizen to pursue lawful dreams.
“Central to this proposed roadmap are significant reforms in education and healthcare, which are at the core of human capital development.
“A robust human capital is indispensable infrastructure for national progress. It serves as the fundamental capital upon which daily life, economic expansion, and the delivery of essential public services depend.
“They are foundational areas that we must reform with energy and determination if we are to reap the demographic dividend of our youthful population,” Obi said,
According to Obi, “from the outset of my presidency, we will establish a task force dedicated to drastically reducing the menace of out-of-school children.
“We will place greater emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support our drive for massive industrialisation, anchored on our agricultural endowments and value addition across value chains organised around industrial parks to be located in development zones across the geopolitical regions of the country.
“Funding and improved equipment of TVET institutions, through partnerships among government, the private sector, and social entrepreneurs such as faith-based educators, will facilitate apprenticeship opportunities in the private sector, similar to the German dual education system.
“The situation in which unemployment remains high while Nigerian entrepreneurs establish businesses elsewhere because skilled labour is scarce must be confronted decisively. Doing so is essential for the common good and for facilitating our transition from a consumption-driven economy to a production-driven one.
“Character and civic education, emphasising the values that foster trust—an essential ingredient for enterprise and leadership—as well as shared national values, will receive significant attention within the tripartite approach to governance that we propose.
A New Nigeria is Possible.”
Meanwhile, a high court in Anambra State has granted Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), leave to serve court processes on Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), through substituted means in an N8 billion “defamation” suit.
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Presiding judge, D.A. Onyefulu, gave the order on Tuesday after hearing an ex parte application filed by Chisom Ibemesi, Obi’s counsel,
The judge granted the application after considering an affidavit showing that efforts by the court bailiff to personally serve the processes on Okonkwo were unsuccessful.
The court ordered that the writ of summons, accompanying processes and all subsequent court documents be served by pasting them at the defendant’s residence in Nsukka, Enugu State, or by delivering them to any adult at the address.
“Leave is granted to the Plaintiff/Applicant to serve the Writ of Summons and other accompanying processes and all other subsequent processes in this suit on the Defendant by substituted means to wit; by pasting said processes at the Defendant’s home address – NPR 48 Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State (close to Ijeoma Fishing Company, Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State) or by serving same on any adult at the Defendant’s home address…” the order read.
Onyefulu also ordered that “service to be photographed and put in court’s file to show due compliance with orders of the court.”
The order is to be carried out within seven days.
Obi filed the defamation suit after accusing Okonkwo of making defamatory remarks about him during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
In the interview, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and the south-east caucus of the NDC demanded bribes from house of representatives and senate hopefuls of the party in return for tickets.
Okonkwo alleged that Obunike Ohaegbu, NDC aspirant for house of representatives ticket in Anambra, sent in a message alleging Obi scammed him to the tune of N10 million.
Ohaegbu later appeared on the same television programme to deny allegations that Obi collected N10 million as bribe from him.
Subsequently, Obi threatened a lawsuit against Okonkwo over alleged defamatory comments, demanding a retraction, an apology published in two national newspapers, and the sum of N5 billion “as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the grave injury occasioned to his hard-earned reputation.”
Okonkwo, however, declined the demands, that his remarks were based on facts and constituted fair comment on matters of public interest.
Okonkwo had served as one of the spokespersons for Obi’s campaign council when the former governor was presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2023 election.
