Obi has also accepted his nomination as the NDC’s standard-bearer for the 2027 general election, declaring that “a New Nigeria is Possible” and promising far-reaching reforms to address insecurity, poverty, unemployment and poor governance.
Speaking at a special national convention in Abuja where party delegates affirmed him as the NDC presidential candidate, Obi said the 2027 election would be about rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges and restoring hope to millions of citizens.
Addressing party leaders, representatives of the INEC, delegates and supporters from across the country, Obi said his acceptance of the nomination was driven by a commitment to rebuilding national unity, strengthening democratic institutions and placing the country on the path of sustainable development.
“It concerns the essence of our nation and the future of our children. It is about rekindling hope for millions who have faced adversity yet remain committed to Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, businesses were struggling, communities were suffering, and many Nigerians had lost confidence in governance. Still, he insisted that the country’s situation was reversible through visionary leadership and collective action.
Obi identified national unity as the foundation for rebuilding the country, warning that Nigeria could not make meaningful progress while divided along ethnic, religious, and regional lines.
He said the country’s diversity should be harnessed as a strength rather than exploited as a source of conflict.
“We should build bridges where others erect barriers, replace mistrust with confidence, division with understanding, and resentment with a collective purpose,” he stated.
On insecurity, Obi pledged to deploy an intelligence-driven and technology-enhanced security architecture that would strengthen security institutions, improve coordination among agencies and address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment and marginalisation.
Turning to healthcare, Obi described the condition of primary healthcare facilities as unacceptable and pledged to more than double health insurance coverage within four years and increase healthcare funding significantly.
According to him, every ward in the country would have access to a functional, properly managed primary healthcare center, and at least half of Nigeria’s estimated 30,000 primary healthcare centers would become fully operational before the end of his tenure.
Obi also promised massive investments in education, describing human capital development as the bedrock of national transformation.
On agriculture and food security, Obi argued that the country’s abundant arable land should make it one of the world’s leading food producers rather than one grappling with severe hunger.
The former governor promised to shift the economy from consumption to production through aggressive investments in agriculture and rural development.
In the energy sector, Obi pledged to address the country’s chronic power deficit, describing electricity as a critical driver of industrialisation and economic development.
He promised to increase electricity generation and distribution by at least 10,000 megawatts within four years.
Sunday Aborisade
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