Precious Nwonu, Enugu

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has pledged to spend his holidays within Nigeria if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Obi made the commitment in his Independence Day address in Abuja on Thursday, saying he would use his four-year tenure to travel across the country, engage with citizens and gain a better understanding of their challenges.

The former Anambra State governor said his proposed approach to governance would involve leading by example and maintaining close contact with Nigerians.

“As I have always done, I will lead by example. In four years as President of this great nation, I will not spend my holidays outside Nigeria,” Obi said.

He listed Zamfara, Borno, Kwara, Ebonyi and Edo among states he intended to visit during his holidays, adding that he wanted to experience the country and interact directly with its people.

“I want to continue to see Nigeria. I want to know Nigeria. I want to spend time with Nigerians, listen to them, understand their challenges and celebrate their resilience,” he said.

Obi also promised to make governance measurable and accountable, with emphasis on improving the welfare and productivity of citizens.

He said Nigerians would begin to see tangible results from his administration within its first year if elected.

On security, the NDC candidate pledged to intensify efforts to tackle terrorism, banditry and other threats, saying farmers should be able to return to their farms while children attend school and businesses operate without fear.

“No Nigerian should be forced to live in an IDP camp because his or her government has failed to provide security,” Obi said.

The former governor also criticised the APC-led Federal Government, arguing that Nigeria continued to face serious challenges despite the promises made by the ruling party in 2023.

He cited poverty, insecurity and the number of out-of-school children among the challenges confronting the country.

According to Obi, Nigeria’s problem is not primarily a shortage of resources but the failure of successive administrations to translate the country’s resources into improved human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity.

He also referred to his recent visit to Sokoto State with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where they held discussions on insecurity, unemployment, poverty, drug abuse and out-of-school children.

Obi said their visit to an internally displaced persons camp in Ramin Kura, Sokoto metropolis, exposed the difficult conditions faced by displaced women and children.

He described the situation as an indication of the challenges confronting communities across different parts of the country.

The former Anambra governor had previously criticised Nigerian presidents for spending their holidays abroad, arguing that the President should use such periods to visit parts of the country facing security and developmental challenges.

He said an elected president should remain connected to citizens and use domestic visits to better understand the BN conditions in different parts of Nigeria.

Obi maintained that while a Nigerian president would need to travel abroad for official engagements, presidential holidays should be spent within the country.