Category Nigeria News

Opposition figure Peter Obi says he never worked with any government before becoming the governor of Anambra State in 2006.

He said this while clarifying the rumour that he served under the regime of former military dictator Sani Abacha. Obi was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election said that he was a successful businessman before venturing into politics.

He narrated how, as an entrepreneur, he and other businessmen met with Abacha over port congestion, and they were later co-opted into a committee to decongest the port.

READ ALSO:  I’m In Labour Party, Working With Coalition Not Anti-Party Activity — Peter Obi

“I have never worked for any government before becoming governor. I was a very successful businessman, and everybody knows that. I built my business from scratch,” Obi said.

“As a businessman, I was also part of those who were controlling trade in Lagos then. There was a time during Abacha’s government, and it even happened during Obasanjo’s government. When Abacha took over, all ports closed, so they came out with a policy that caused congestion in our ports, even in the airports, goods were not cleared, goods were not being exported and everything.

“And some of us felt we needed to go and see the head of state then, or at least the Minister of Finance. So, we came to Abuja, a few of us. We had an audience with the minister of finance and the head of state, and we were able to elucidate the problem we were facing.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu for buying a jet when millions of Nigerians have not access to basic amenities including good healthcare.

Obi, a guest on Sunday Politics, said if he becomes president, he would be a president that cares for his people and would not spend billions to buy a private jet because he won’t need one.

An example of what he says is the disconnect between the President Bola Tinubu administration’s actions which he has issues was the purchase of a new presidential jet last year.

“If I become president I will use the resources effectively, I cannot buy a new jet,” Obi said on the programme. “I don’t need one because you can go anywhere without a jet, I will never need one.

“I will not use 150 billion to buy a jet when 80 per cent of our primary health centres are not functioning. ”

READ ALSO:  If Your People Are Dying, The President Should Be Ready To Die — Peter Obi

Asked about possible security implications that may arise if the President doesn’t have a jet, he dismissed such concerns, saying that as a governor of Anambra State, he never drove bullet proof cars.

“I was a governor, for my first four years, I drove 406, for the rest of it, I didn’t drive bullet proof cars. Nobody will decide to kill you if you are doing the right thing, it’s when you do the wrong thing that you will fear about death,” he said.

He insisted that insecurity does not justify buying private jets and bullet proof cars by leaders, saying “if your people are dying you should be ready to die. ”

‘No Compassion’

The former Anambra State governor lamented what he described as lack of empathy by President Tinubu. He said that the president does not care much about the citizens.

He said that Nigerians need a president that truly cares about their wellbeing, adding that he would be such a president if elected to lead the country in 2027.

“People want to get up and see a president that cares, a president that shows compassion,” Obi said.

Presidential hopeful Peter Obi says he remains a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) despite being a vibrant member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Obi, who was a guest on Sunday Politics programme, said his action does not in any way translate to anti-party activity.

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He said, “The coalition just adopted a party for 2027. So, we are trying to work together for the sake of Nigeria.

“Today, I am a Labour Party member. I remain in the Labour Party. But we have all agreed to work as a coalition for the 2027 election, and for that, we’ve adopted ADC. Going on, other parties, other individuals will also come in.

“We want better governance for this country. We want to see a more competent government with capacity and character.

“This coalition might have other parties as it happened in the past, and change the name of the party.

“I am a member of this (Labour Party) and I am going to work with this group.

Presidential hopeful Peter Obi says being Nigerian president is a responsibility that should engender compassion and not nonchalance.

Obi, who was a guest on Sunday Politics programme, believes that a president should be ready to pay the supreme price if his or her people are dying.

“If I become president, I will use resources effectively. I cannot say: ‘buy a new jet’,” Obi said whilst accusing the Bola Tinubu administration of being unfeeling to the plight of the people.

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“I don’t need one because I can go anywhere without a jet. I will not use ₦150bn to buy a jet when 80% of primary healthcare centres are not functioning.

“I was a governor, and for my first four years, I drove 406. For the rest of it, I didn’t drive bulletproof cars. Nobody will try to kill you if you do the right thing. It is when you do the wrong thing that you fear death.

“If your people are dying, you should be ready to die. The president should also be ready to die,” he said.

2027 presidential aspirant Peter Obi says the northern region of Nigeria will celebrate him if he becomes president.

Obi, 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and a prominent member of the opposition coalition floated on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was a guest on Sunday Politics programme.

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If Your People Are Dying, The President Should Be Ready To Die — Peter Obi

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I Don’t Need More Than Four Years To Provide Good Governance – Obi

According to him, the greatest asset Nigeria has is in the 19 states domiciled in the northern region of the country, but the potential of the region with numerical voter strength and vast arable lands has been largely untapped because of the hydra-headed monster of insecurity.

Obi said, “We have voted for incompetence, we’ve voted for tribe, (and) we’ve voted for religion; let’s vote for competence.

“I want them to trust me. The biggest asset of this country is in the north, the uncultivated lands in the north. The criminality we face in the north today, I will deal with it.

“If I am president, the North will celebrate me. I have an idea of the problem. ”

The former Anambra State governor promised to be a president who cares, and a president who shows compassion”.

He accused President Bola Tinubu of being unfeeling to the plight of Nigerians. He said Tinubu chose to go on Christmas holiday in Lagos in December 2024 instead of visiting Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where several children died in a stampede at a Christmas party.

”There is no compassion; people lost their children who will lead this country in the future, and he went on a Christmas holiday. ”

The Senate on Sunday said the Federal High Court in Abuja has not served the certified true copy of the judgment which nullified the six-month suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

On Friday, Justice Binta Nyako ordered the Senate to reinstate Natasha, describing her suspension as excessive.

But Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said the upper chamber has acknowledged the verdict of the court.

READ ALSO: Court Directs Senate To Recall Senator Natasha

“Since no party to the case has been officially served the enrolled order of the judgment, none can enforce any perceived order or relief,” he stated.

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria acknowledges that judgment was delivered on 4th July 2025 by the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the suit instituted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. However, the Senate is yet to be served with the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the said judgment.

“Our legal representatives, who were in attendance at the proceedings, have confirmed that the complete judgment was not read in open court.

“Consequently, we have formally applied for the CTC to enable a thorough review and informed determination of the appropriate legal response, particularly in view of the uncertainty surrounding whether the court made any direct order nullifying the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. ”

Adaramodu, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, stated that, “Pending receipt and examination of the CTC, and acting on the advice of counsel, the Senate shall refrain from taking any steps that may prejudice its legal position.

“The Senate remains committed to upholding the rule of law and will act strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon full clarification of the court’s pronouncements. We urge the public to remain patient and assured of the Senate’s fidelity to due process. ”

See the full statement below:

Statement by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria acknowledges that judgment was delivered on 4th July 2025 by the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the suit instituted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. However, the Senate is yet to be served with the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the said judgment.

Our legal representatives, who were in attendance at the proceedings, have confirmed that the complete judgment was not read in open court. Consequently, we have formally applied for the CTC to enable a thorough review and informed determination of the appropriate legal response, particularly in view of the uncertainty surrounding whether the court made any direct order nullifying the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Since no party to the case has been officially served the enrolled order of the judgement, none can enforce any perceived order or relief.

Pending receipt and examination of the CTC, and acting on the advice of counsel, the Senate shall refrain from taking any steps that may prejudice its legal position. The Senate remains committed to upholding the rule of law and will act strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon full clarification of the court’s pronouncements.

We urge the public to remain patient and assured of the Senate’s fidelity to due process.