Precious Nwonu, Enugu

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his reported reluctance to campaign across all 36 states ahead of the 2027 general election.

Obi accused the President of spending more than 260 days outside Nigeria while claiming he could not devote 36 days to visiting states to campaign and explain his administration’s achievements.

He made the remarks on Thursday at a political summit in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

Tinubu had indicated that he might not visit every state during the 2027 campaign, explaining that his responsibilities as President required him to give priority to governance.

Reacting, Obi challenged Tinubu to visit Abakaliki and account for his administration’s performance over the past three years, particularly how funds borrowed by the Federal Government had been utilised.

The former Anambra State governor also questioned the President’s capacity to continue leading the country, arguing that he lacked the energy and competence required for the position.

Obi urged Tinubu to leave office, saying the country needed leadership capable of addressing its pressing challenges.

He also cautioned against ethnic divisions in the South-East, insisting that voters should support him based on his qualifications and ability to lead Nigeria rather than his Igbo identity.

Obi said he was seeking votes from Nigerians across the country and not relying on regional or ethnic sentiments to secure support.

Outlining his proposed priorities if elected president, the NDC candidate promised to declare a state of emergency in key sectors, including security, education, healthcare, agriculture and the fight against corruption.

He said his administration would prioritise national unity and ensure that government appointments reflected the federal character principle.

On security, Obi pledged to strengthen the country’s security agencies through improved equipment and resources, promising decisive action against those responsible for attacks and kidnappings.

He also vowed to intensify the fight against corruption, warning that anyone found guilty of stealing public funds would face prosecution, regardless of their position.

In education, the former governor expressed concern over the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, which he put at more than 18 million. He promised to introduce measures to reduce the figure and improve access to education.

Obi further pledged to tackle hunger by supporting farmers, improving agricultural production and expanding opportunities for food exports.

On healthcare, he promised to establish functional healthcare facilities in every political ward across the country, arguing that Nigeria had the resources to provide accessible medical services to its citizens.

He said addressing these challenges would form part of his administration’s priorities if elected in 2027.