The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, has said Nigerians across the country are facing severe hardship under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Obi attributed the growing hardship to rising hunger, worsening insecurity and what he described as widespread harassment, saying the challenges confronting Nigerians are no longer limited to members or supporters of any particular political party.
The former Anambra State governor made the remarks on Friday while speaking with journalists at St Fintan’s Catholic Church in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Obi was in the state to attend the burial ceremony of Okaji Okorie, father of the NDC senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South Zone, Linus Okorie.
Reacting to questions about alleged harassment of NDC supporters by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Obi said the hardship in the country has affected Nigerians regardless of their political affiliations.
“For me, every Nigerian is already being harassed, not just my supporters. Hunger is harassing everybody. The worsening economic situation is affecting everyone. Go to any village, and you will see that people are suffering. It is time for Nigerians to tell those governing us that enough is enough,” he said.
On concerns about the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections in 2027, Obi said Nigerians should place greater emphasis on collective determination and the power of their votes.
He argued that the credibility of the electoral process would ultimately depend on the resolve of citizens to defend their votes.
“It is not really about confidence in INEC; it is about having confidence in the people. The people will determine what INEC does. If Nigerians insist that their votes must count, then their votes will count,” Obi said.
He urged Nigerians to reflect on the country’s current direction and consider the future that awaits the younger generation if the situation remains unchanged.
“The people should look at what is happening in Nigeria and ask themselves: What is the future of our children in this enterprise called Nigeria? Are we going to continue in this direction?” he asked.
Obi further said that those advocating for meaningful change in the country are taking significant risks, given the prevailing political and economic conditions.
“Anyone talking about change in Nigeria today is making the ultimate sacrifice because we cannot continue like this. Every single day, poverty is increasing; every single day, hunger is increasing,” he said.
He also referred to a World Bank report which, according to him, indicated that the country’s poverty rate had risen significantly since the current administration assumed office.
“The World Bank recently reported that poverty has risen to almost 79 per cent from about 51 per cent when this government came into office. But you do not even need a World Bank report to know what is happening. Go to the villages and see for yourself,” Obi said.
He expressed concern over the increasing number of Nigerians facing food insecurity and called for urgent action to address the worsening situation.
“Millions more Nigerians are facing hunger. So, what are we going to do about it? Are we going to continue like this? No,” he said.
Speaking about his relationship with his host, Linus Okorie, Obi described him as a steadfast ally and dependable political associate, noting that they had worked together in the past.
“This is not the first time Hon. Linus Okorie and I are working together. We worked together in the Labour Party, and now we are together in the NDC. That underscores the strength of our relationship,” Obi said.
Obi, however, said his visit to Ebonyi was primarily to honour the memory of Okorie’s late father and sympathise with the bereaved family.
He prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and asked God to grant the family the strength to cope with the loss.
“We are here today to pay our last respects to his late father. We pray that God Almighty, who blessed Papa with a long and fruitful life, will grant him eternal rest in His kingdom and give the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.
