Emmanuel Eze, PBA Journalism Mentee
Presidential candidate of the Labour party, Mr Peter Obi, has promised to put an end to the looting of public funds by public officials if voted into power in the upcoming elections.
Mr Obi made the promise during a town hall interaction with students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State on Thursday, 12th January 2023.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe said: “We are not going to have a situation where people who do nothing steal public money, instead we are now going to have a situation where public money must be used for public benefits.”
Speaking on the challenges in the education sector, Obi also pledged to end the recurring strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), adding that students will no longer be made to spend extra years in school due to industrial action.
“I know your country is going through a difficult time and everybody is saying education is a scam because when you graduate, you will not get a job, so you are worried. You come in for a four-year course and then you spend six years or seven years.”
Addressing this concern, the LP presidential candidate cited an example of how he managed the education system in Anambra State when he was governor and how the state university ended strike.
“As Governor of Anambra State, I had ASUU strike and I told them after we settle it, it would not happen again and if you check in the last ASUU strike, Anambra State University wasn’t one of them; the reason is because of what I did with them then and that is what we are going to do now. We cannot have a situation where we have incessant strikes in our universities; it must end now.”
He also promised to move the country from a consumption economy to a production-oriented economy in order to create more jobs for its teeming youths.,
The Labour Party presidential candidate, who arrived the venue at a few minutes past One O’clock accompanied by other party chieftains was welcomed with chants of “PETER OBI” by the Students accompanied by the DJ’s rendition of flavor’s hit song Game changer (Dike) to add some gusto to the frenzied atmosphere.
He apologized for his lateness to the event citing circumstances beyond his control but the students could care less as they continued their admirable chants.
Addressing his connections to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Mr Obi said: “With the current VC and DVC, we all came here and left (UNN) the same year; we have had the privilege of a great university. (A situation) where the university of Nigeria, Nsukka has produced several Governors, several local government chairmen, legislators but now we would produce a president.”
He also promised wealth creation for the youths, an end to kidnapping and police brutality against youths in order to reinforce the importance of the youths to Nigeria.
He called on all students and youths in general, to go and get their PVCs in order to exercise their franchise by voting for him and become part of the wave of change about to hit Nigeria.
On the statement from critics that he has no structure Obi said: “They will tell you Peter Obi has no structure, that structure they have is the structure of stealing, structure of ASUU strike; the structure they have, has killed Nigeria, that is what we want to change.”
The event which was organised by the Students’ Union Government of the institution under the leadership of its president, Comr. Abuchi Michael, took place at the Ekpo Convocation Arena of the institution.
Mr Obi concluded by noting that a new Nigeria is possible, and enjoined all to key into the struggle to actualise it.
“A new Nigeria is possible, help us to make it happen, rest assured my commitment is total; I have done it somewhere before, and I am only looking for an opportunity to do it at the federal level.”
From the university, the Obi/Datti campaign train thereafter proceeded to Enugu metropolis where the Labour Party candidate addressed Enugu State residents at Okpara Square.
