TheCable

Peter Obi, standard bearer of the Labour Party (LP), has asked Nigerians not to allow politicians to sway them with religious or tribal sentiments in the 2023 polls.

Campaigns for general election take off today.

During his courtesy visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife on Tuesday, Obi appealed to Nigerians to elect the next president based on capacity, competence and commitment to national development.

“Don’t look at tribe or religion. It’s what we, the politicians, the elites, use to deceive you. Don’t look at our religion. Let nobody tell you it’s his entitlement. It’s nobody’s turn; it’s Nigerians’ turn. It’s the turn of the Nigerian youths. Nobody will take anything from them this time! Nobody is entitled to it. And don’t say it’s their money. It’s your money they are giving you. If I bring money, take it,” Obi said.

“It’s your entitlement. Nobody is entitled to take it from you. If they give you money, take it. They are only paying part of their debt.

“This is a movement for the youth to take back their country. I set up a movement that would go a long way to reveal how things are going wrong in the country.”

Obi said it was unacceptable for the country not to be able to produce food for the people despite abundant human and mineral resources.

“We have enough land and resources to make provision for feeding the country. A state can feed this nation, not to talk of 36 states. We should not wait for crude oil alone from the Niger Delta to sustain us. Enough land and fund are available for the citizenry,” he said.

“Everybody in Nigeria is suffering, including Nigerian youths. Enough of manipulation! Please, don’t consider tribe. It is nobody’s turn! It is Nigerians’ turn!

“Nobody should vote for me because I am an Igbo man or a southeast man or because of my religion. There’s no tribe where people are eating free food. People are not buying bread cheaper in the southwest than in the southeast. Poor people in Nigeria are suffering in Nigeria.”