Former Anambra State governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has responded to comments by his former running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, that none of the major politicians challenging President Bola Tinubu can fix Nigeria.
Baba-Ahmed, who was Obi’s running mate under the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential election, recently argued that the leading opposition figures seeking to replace Tinubu in 2027 lack the capacity to significantly improve the country.
Speaking during an interview on the Arise News programme, Obi rejected the assessment and pointed to his record as governor of Anambra State as evidence that he has experience in managing public resources and delivering development.
Obi argued that what he achieved in Anambra could be replicated at the national level if Nigerians give him the opportunity to lead the country.
Obi: I Can Replicate My Anambra Experience
According to Obi, his experience in Anambra gave him practical exposure to issues such as governance, security, corruption, waste management and development.
He said his administration was able to make improvements in critical areas of the state and maintained that similar principles could be applied to Nigeria.
Obi said his priorities at the national level would include reducing the cost of governance, fighting corruption, improving security and directing government resources towards critical sectors.
He also said he would focus on healthcare, education, poverty reduction and national unity.
‘I Will Cut the Cost of Governance’
One of the major points Obi emphasised was the need to reduce the cost of running government.
He said that if elected president, he would bring what he described as greater civility and efficiency to governance while ensuring that public resources are better utilised.
Obi also maintained that fighting corruption and waste would be central to his administration.
“I fight corruption and issues of waste. I’ve dealt with issues of law and order,” he said during the interview.
Datti Baba-Ahmed’s Criticism
Baba-Ahmed’s comments have attracted attention because of his political history with Obi.
While speaking on the Mic On Podcast, Baba-Ahmed advised Tinubu to prepare to leave office after his tenure but argued that the president should not hand power to the politicians currently challenging him.
He specifically included Obi among those he believed could not improve Nigeria, pointing to Obi’s previous membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as part of his argument.
Baba-Ahmed and Obi were political allies during the 2023 presidential election before later taking different political paths.
Obi Looks Ahead to 2027
Despite the criticism from his former running mate, Obi remains confident in his ability to lead Nigeria.
He said his administration would prioritise rebuilding trust in government and tackling some of the country’s most pressing challenges, including insecurity, poverty, healthcare and education.
He also promised to protect the integrity of elections, saying that electoral manipulation would not be allowed under his watch.
With the 2027 presidential race already generating intense political debate, the exchange between Obi and Baba-Ahmed adds another dimension to the growing conversation over who has the experience and capacity to lead Nigeria.
For Obi, however, his argument is straightforward: his record in Anambra is the evidence he believes Nigerians should examine when assessing his ability to govern at the national level.
As the 2027 election approaches, Nigerians will ultimately have the opportunity to assess the records, policies and promises of the various presidential contenders before deciding who they believe can move the country forward.
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