Obi urges citizens to withdraw respect for corrupt public office holders

Tony Okoh, Uyo
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‎Former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on citizens to stop showing respect and honour to corrupt public office holders, urging Nigerians to reject the culture of celebrating individuals accused of looting public resources.

Speaking on the need to rebuild national values, he stressed that integrity, accountability, and service to the people must define leadership in Nigeria, not titles or political status.
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‎‎Obi disclosed this during his official declaration of membership in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Saturday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
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‎‎He queried the morality of politicians who divert public funds for personal use to accept such titles as ‘excellencies and honorables’ when they have no conscience or integrity in them.
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‎Obi stressed that Nigeria is neither poor nor bad, but what is giving the country such images is “the persons who used  the back door into the leadership position.”
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‎‎He lamented that before the end of 2026, over 140 million Nigerians will fall below the poverty line, attributing such a cause to the All Progressive Congress (APC’s) bad leadership and economic policies.
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‎‎”My dear people, countries have overtaken us. In 1980, Nigeria’s per capita income was 880 dollars, but today, after 46 years, our per capita income is 800 dollars. In 1980, China’s per capita income was 300 dollars, but now its per capita income is 13,000 dollars.”
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‎‎He alleged that the Tinubu-led government has borrowed more than the two previous administrations in the country, with no tangible results.
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‎The former presidential candidate emphasized that 2027 remains a year to dismantle criminality and bring hope to people.
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‎Obi, who stressed that the forthcoming elections would be Nigeria versus the All Progressives Congress (APC), warned that anyone who fails to properly count votes will be held accountable by the people.
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‎‎“In the upcoming election in 2027, anybody who refuses to count our vote, we will count the person who joins. Anybody who refused to count our votes in 2027, we will count them,” he emphasized.
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‎Obi stressed that the power of democracy depends on the will of voters being respected, urging citizens to participate actively in the process and defend their votes peacefully.
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‎‎He also called on electoral officers and political actors to act with integrity, adding that Nigeria cannot progress if election results do not reflect the choice of the people.
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‎The former governor reminded supporters that credible elections are the foundation of good governance.
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‎Obi, who vowed to fix the country, explained that he would cut the cost of governance and channel funds into productive use, which will bring prosperity to all Nigerians.