Labour Party’s Agenda: Peter Obi to prioritise security, power, subsidy, diaspora remittances

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja

The Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi has identified security, power, petroleum subsidy, Diaspora remittances, among others, as the focus of his administration when elected in 2023.

He also listed gender parity, fight against corruption, debt management and food security to form part of his strategies at “retooling governance and securing a robust united Nigeria.”

The LP Presidential candidate disclosed this on Monday, in Michigan, United States of America while speaking on the theme, ‘Nigeria Diaspora and Capacity Building’.

He outlined his commitment to retooling governance and creating a secure and united Nigeria, as he insisted that he will “pursue a production-centered growth for food security and export; effective legal and institutional reforms (rule of law, corruption and government effectiveness); the leapfrogging of Nigeria from oil dependency to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).”

The former Anambra State governor who lamented at the decrepit state of social infrastructure in the country, cautioned that Nigerians must in thinking through 2023 and beyond, “think seriously about a leadership that is imbued with competence, capacity, credibility and commitment.”

According to him, his administration will also focus on “The 4 CS and intangible assets” as it “will pursue intangible assets of good governance, rule of law, security of lives and properties; we will ensure that we have these assets in place and stress asset optimization.”

On security, he vowed to work with the relevant existing security institutions and agencies as well as supporting national security enabling documents and strategies.

He however added, “we will tweak the security architecture, by offering each arm or agency lead in areas where they have comparative advantage. Total reform of the entire security architecture that will include 3 level policing- Federal, state and community.

A properly manned, equipped and technologically driven security system will entail reforming the security sector and governance, with particular emphasis on re-focusing the military on external threats and border protection and police on internal security threats and law enforcement; swift prosecution of criminals, bandits and terrorists; enhanced coordination among security agencies; and upholding the rule of law.”

The presidential candidate also emphasized on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to play a key role in revamping the country’s ailing electricity generation, distribution and supply value chain “through a multifaceted approach, particularly in the transmission infrastructure.”

“As we all know, two components of the power sector (generation and distribution) have been privatized and liberalized leaving the most critical component (transmission) in the hands of the government which is causing inefficiency and darkness.

We will, therefore, vigorously pursue the liberalization of the transmission infrastructure in addition to a robust power mix- embedded power and renewable energy.”

This is also as he revealed that his administration will support local refining of petroleum products for domestic uses, adding further that the government will enforce petroleum products pricing in local currency while ensuring a deliberate transition of all government vehicles to gas powered cars.

Obi, who is among top contenders for the country’s top seat in the 2023 elections, stressed on tackling food inflation by addressing insecurity and farmers returning to farms.

When done, “Our food production will go up and inflation will go down through reduced food prices. When you remove subsidies, our fiscal imbalance will reduce and subsequently increase.”

Other issues discussed by the former Anambra State governor include pursuing a drastic reduction in cost of governance and corruption to improve ease of doing business and to attract FDI.

He highlighted that this “will jumpstart industrialization and when borrowing is unavoidable, it will be strictly for regenerative purposes and production.”

We will aggressively pursue the global best practices and standards within available resources. In the medium and long term, 14% budgetary funding for education is within the realm of possibility. We will re-direct UBEC and TETFund resources to the strict and robust funding of basic and tertiary institutions, with a view to ending the perennial strikes by University Staff and workers.”

On gender parity and corruption, he said, “As governor of Anambra State my administration achieved close to a 60-40 gender balance in appointive and elective positions. The national target has hovered around 30-35%. We intend to progressively aim for between 35-40%, with aggressive gender mainstreaming action plans and rigid benchmarks.

We will have zero tolerance for corruption; block leakages and cut the cost of governance. Our total commitment to transparency and accountability in government business is the only credible way to achieve limited-to zero corruption.
Impact of Diaspora Communities on Their Countries.”

He called on Disporans not to despair, adding that if elected, he will encourage adequate diaspora participation because he considers Diaspora remittances the new normal and envisage that it will soon become Nigeria’s new Official Development Assistance (ODA).

“In 2021 Nigeria’s foreign direct investment (FDI) was a paltry $4.8 billion compared to Diaspora remittances. Diaspora remittances are our alternative FDI and ODA.

The Nigeria Diaspora represents a broad segment of Nigeria’s human development capital. With that population, the Diaspora family has the capacity to catapult any nation to greatness. Regrettably, Nigeria is yet to harness fully the huge benefits of the Diaspora potentials” he explained.

He noted that beyond the vital role of Diasporas sending foreign remittances back home, they are increasingly involved in advancing technology and skill transfer, strengthening democracy, opening up global supply chains, trade and foreign direct investment, education and research as well as healthcare delivery.

Regretting that the country has b3n hijacked by few persons “who have perfected the dubious act of state capture,” he pointed out that the “conduct, plus the resulting combination of institutional weaknesses and lack of political will that manifest as poor policy and project implementation and poor governance performance outcomes,” has been the bane of the nation’s development.

This is even as he commended the youths for their resilience as he noted that “the journey to rescue Nigeria could not have gained momentum without the proactive role of our youth. I salute them. The race is far from over; the campaigning has only just started. Yet I am confident that given their resilience, they will stay the course.”

He stated that “Turning Nigeria around requires sacrifice; but above all an adaptive, transformative and purposeful leadership that is imbued with competence, capacity, credibility and commitment

It will take only one visionary leadership and disruptive thinker for Nigeria to be put back on the right trajectory. I know that with robust diaspora support we can take back Nigeria.”

 

However, The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Tuesday raised alarm over the reported arrest and Intimidation of his supporters.

 

This alarm isn’t unconnected to the reported arrest of the Lagos State coordinator for the rally organized by his supporters on Saturday by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

 

The coordinator, Joseph Onuorah, was arrested when he arrived in Lagos on his way from France.

 

Peter Obi said the intimidation of the opposition negates elements of free and fair election and reminded the security agents on the need to remind their operatives on the need to remain civil in their conducts.

 

He insisted that “Elections are not deemed free and fair when a certain group employs the tool of intimidation to ensure that the opposition is silenced, both at the campaigns and at the polls.

 

 

“Peaceful assembly and unfettered electioneering campaigns are constitutionally guaranteed. Both and other ordered liberties cannot be breached wilfully by security

operatives.

He disclosed that “Recent reports of OBIdients being silently arrested by some security agents is extremely disturbing and condemnable,” Peter Obi wrote on his verified Twitter handle.

 

“We must ensure that everyone is given a level playing field in the forthcoming elections, and that no eligible Nigerian, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation is disenfranchised, more so through violence and intimidation.

 

“I call on the Federal and State agencies to remind their operatives on the need to respect civil liberties.”