The Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on political leaders in the country to take immediate action to tackle insecurity.
Obi made the call on Tuesday in a statement he shared on X, which he said arose from what he saw while completing his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination form on Monday.
He said Section E, Question 1 caught his attention with the question: “Have you ever been adjudged a lunatic or been declared a person of unsound mind?” The answer is either Yes or No.
He revealed that the question got him thinking: “Can we, as the political leaders of today’s Nigeria, truly say we are exhibiting the characteristics of a sound mind?”
He also questioned the current administration over insecurity, hardship, and the lack of accountability in handling funds, asking whether politics should now override good governance.
“When Nigerians, including children and security personnel, are being abducted into the bushes, citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from, and several billions are being siphoned frivolously through non-existent agencies and projects, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?”
The former governor maintained that the greater priority of a sound leader is to ensure that the survival, security, and stability of Nigeria take precedence over other considerations.
“A sound-minded leadership would have declared these existential challenges a national emergency and immediately mobilised all relevant institutions, security agencies, experts, community leaders, and other critical stakeholders to confront them with urgency and resolve.
“At a moment like this, the survival, security, and stability of Nigeria must take precedence over every other consideration. This is a time for decisive action, not political calculation or the pursuit of partisan advantage.”
Obi also revealed another question that got him thinking. He questioned INEC’s inability to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
“Section E, Question 6, was: ‘Have you ever presented a forged certificate to INEC?’ Again, the answer is either Yes or No. This raises another important question: Why shouldn’t INEC, in the interest of ensuring that our leaders are exemplary in following the rules and to strengthen public confidence in our electoral process, publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by every candidate seeking elective office?”
Obi added, “Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust. Nigeria’s problems are too serious for politics as usual.
“It is time for leadership defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to service.”
