The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has renewed his call for Nigerians to put aside ethnic and religious differences, arguing that the country cannot make meaningful progress without unity.
Obi made the appeal on Sunday, October 4, during an NDC Global Digital Townhall, where he responded to questions on national issues and outlined his views on the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The former Anambra State governor said the consequences of poor governance were being felt by Nigerians across ethnic, religious and regional divides, making national cohesion essential to addressing the country’s challenges.
He said, “We need unity in our country. Today we are not united. We are divided along ethnic and religious lines, and to the best of my knowledge, no tribe buys bread cheaper; no tribe buys fuel cheaper; no religion buys bread cheaper; no religion buys fuel cheaper.
“The poverty that is in our country today spreads across the whole nation. No tribe is more secure than the other. Insecurity is all over the country. Same thing I have been saying.
“We need a president who will unite us. We need a president who will work tirelessly to secure the country,” the former Anambra State governor told the virtual gathering, which went live on Sunday evening.
Obi’s comments came days after gunmen abducted prospective National Youth Service Corps members travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The victims were travelling in two buses when the attackers reportedly struck in the Umunoha area of Imo State on Thursday.
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Reacting to the incident, Obi criticised the continued prevalence of abductions and questioned the government’s response to the kidnapping.
“And we are still campaigning for the next election? It should not be. Where were they kidnapped? Which bush did they take them to? Is it not in Nigeria? Those phoning and demanding N1bn [as ransom] – are they phoning from outside Nigeria? No
“With available technology, we should be able to find where people who are doing bad things are. If they are in a bush in Nigeria, all of us should be able to go into that bush until everybody there is out.
“We cannot continue this way,” Obi said, calling for the strengthening of security agencies to flush out crime.
The NDC candidate said security personnel needed adequate resources, welfare and institutional support to effectively confront criminals and protect citizens.
“We have security agencies. They must work. We must make sure we provide them with the logistics needed to work. We must make sure we are with them.
“We must make sure they are properly taken off, and their families are taken care of if anything happens to them if they are not available. We want a president who will lead from the front,” he said.
Obi’s intervention forms part of his broader campaign message ahead of 2027, with security, economic hardship and national unity expected to remain central issues in the emerging presidential contest.