Obi to editors: Hold politicians accountable, insist on issue-based campaigns

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian editors to hold politicians accountable ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that campaigns must focus on good governance, security, national unity and economic prosperity.

Obi also called on the media to ensure that political parties and candidates are allowed to campaign freely across the country, warning that intimidation and restrictions on political activities could undermine democracy.

He made the call on Friday while speaking on the second day of the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu, where he urged journalists to question politicians about their records, qualifications, policies and campaign promises.

The former Anambra governor said the media had a responsibility to guide political discourse and challenge candidates who resorted to name-calling and personal attacks rather than discussing issues affecting Nigerians.

“And for me today, as we approach election, I have only one thing I will plead that you include in your discussion. We made a choice to be a democratic country, and that choice is a choice that can help our country to grow,” Obi said.

“And it is important that you help us, the politicians, to ensure that as we approach election, number one, that our discussions, our campaigns, everything we do, is strictly based on issues that will bring good governance, that will bring unity, security, and prosperity for the country. Strictly.”

He urged editors to challenge politicians who deviated from issue-based campaigns and ensure that the 2027 elections were free, fair and credible.

“You can guide us. If anybody steps out of it and goes into name-calling, or anything, you say, ‘No, no, no, no! That’s not the issue. You shouldn’t go there.’ That you ensure that we have free, fair, and credible election. If anybody stops anybody from campaigning, you say, ‘No.'”

Obi cited past political campaigns in Anambra State to illustrate how politicians from different parties could engage in electoral contests without hostility.

He recalled that during his second tenure as governor, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola visited Anambra to campaign for Chris Ngige, who was then in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

According to Obi, he provided Fashola with his official convoy and remained in his office because he did not have a second set of vehicles.

“It was me who gave Fashola my convoy. And because I don’t have two convoys, I didn’t go out of my office that day. I gave him everything, and stayed back in my office.”

He said Fashola had asked where they would meet, but he explained that he would remain in his office while the former Lagos governor used his convoy.

“Fashola is still there. You can go and ask him,” Obi said.

The NDC candidate also recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo campaigned for Andy Uba in Anambra while Obi was governor, adding that he accompanied the former president during the campaign.

“Obasanjo came… Obasanjo came to campaign for Andy Uba, I followed him. Everybody who is in Anambra was there. Some of you are there. He raised Andy Uba’s hand and said, ‘He’s the one, he’s incoming, I’m the outgoing.’ No problem, and I’m contesting the same—we didn’t quarrel!”

Obi further recalled that former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu campaigned for Uche Ekwunife, saying he welcomed the delegation and provided lunch.

“Orji Uzor Kalu came for Uche Ekwunife, we did not quarrel, I gave them lunch! When they finished, he said, ‘Uche will take over from me,’ no quarrel. It is the people!”

He said such examples demonstrated the need for a peaceful political environment where candidates could freely seek votes across state boundaries.

Obi dismisses rift with Soludo

The former Anambra governor also dismissed suggestions that he was engaged in a political feud with his successor, Chukwuma Soludo, saying the two maintained a cordial relationship.

Obi said he respected Soludo as governor and had no personal disagreement with him, despite the controversy surrounding allegations that his administration left debts behind.

“There’s no issue between me and Soludo. Me and Soludo are close. As a banker, he was my customer. And we have not changed. If I see him, I greet him, I respect his office—he’s the governor.”

He said he wanted to campaign for voters in Enugu and other states, stressing that the governor of a state did not determine the choices of all its residents.

“But I want to campaign for the people of Enugu. Is that the people of Enugu? He has one vote. The same thing is what we want, and you can help us to do that.”

Obi also disclosed that he and his wife were godparents to Soludo’s children, insisting that political disagreements should not be interpreted as a personal quarrel.

“Don’t allow us to do… now people see me and say… if you watch the same interview, they say, “Oh, what is between you and Soludo? Whether you’re owing or not owing.” I said, Soludo is my respected elder brother. Any day, anytime! People might not know, I and my wife are godparents to Soludo’s children. Yes, we’re that close!”

He added, “So we’re not quarrelling! And we will never quarrel! If I see him any day, me and him will hug and everything.”

I left Anambra with $150m, Obi insists

Obi again maintained that he did not leave Anambra State in debt when he completed his tenure in 2014, insisting that he left $150 million in savings.

The former governor made the remarks amid allegations by the Anambra government that his administration left outstanding financial obligations.

He said the money he left in savings was sufficient to cover the liabilities being discussed, arguing that the state could have settled the alleged debt and retained substantial funds.

“If they say anything, I’ll answer them. Like I said yesterday, I did not leave debt in Anambra State. If you like, go and see that interview. The day I left office, thank God, Oti confirmed it this morning while on Arise, I left $150 million in savings. No other governor has left dollars. If you see one, tell me. I left $150 million.”

Obi said he was not raising the issue to boast or attack the current administration, adding that he had inherited a different financial position when he assumed office.

“And that is it, I’m not quarrelling with them, I’m not saying this as a boast. The day I came in, I explained it to them, what I met was $18 million debt. When I left, it was $30 million. I left $150 million.”

He argued that even if the state had incurred the $120 million debt being discussed, the savings he left could have generated enough returns to cover the amount.

“So even if you say all the money they said Anambra is owing, $120 million, and it was created by me, which is wrong public accounting—I said it yesterday—the money I left was giving Anambra State $10 million every year. So if you have been paying it 10-10 million, you would have finished paying it now, and the capital will still be remaining.”

Obi said the money would have grown significantly if it had remained untouched, adding that the state could have paid the alleged debt and retained a substantial balance.

He used an inheritance analogy to explain his position, saying the administration that inherited the funds should have settled the outstanding obligations rather than accuse his government of leaving the state indebted.

“So, it’s a case of a father who allowed his children to inherit N100 million, but they said he’s owing N10 million, and they’re saying he’s owing debt. When they should have just paid it, and take their change, and be celebrating the man for making them rich.”

The former governor said he had no intention of insulting serving governors or officials of the Federal Government, insisting that disagreements over public policies should be addressed through constructive arguments.

“I cannot abuse any governor. I cannot abuse anybody in government. I don’t need to abuse people even in federal government. I’ve never abused anybody. Who has seen me calling President Tinubu’s name? Never! I will not do that. He’s the President of the country, he has all my respect.”

He, however, said public officials should be open to scrutiny and criticism over their performance.

“But I can argue on other issues, whether you’re doing well, or you’re not doing the right thing. That is allowed. We must, because the leader… the character and behavior of the leader exemplifies the value of the society. And the leader must live it.”

Obi urges editors to question candidates directly

Obi called on editors to scrutinise politicians based on their backgrounds, qualifications, public statements and records in office, saying candidates must personally answer questions about allegations against them.

He criticised the practice of politicians relying on aides and supporters to respond to allegations, insisting that voters deserved direct explanations from those seeking public office.

“It’s time for you people to get involved. Question us based on our background. Question us based on what we say. Question us for our qualification and everything. It’s not enough for anybody to say, “I’m this and this.” No!”

He said politicians should not avoid answering allegations by sending proxies to defend them.

“Anything they say about you, you must come and explain, and don’t do it through any proxy. Come and explain, because we are not voting for your wife, we are not voting for your children, we are not voting for your uncle or people representing you. We are voting for you, and we want you to come and answer what we want. That’s how it works.”

Obi also urged journalists to contact him directly if allegations emerged during the campaign, saying he would respond personally and apologise if the claims were true.

“It’s a campaign. You’ll be hearing me in campaign. If there’s anything you want to… if they tell you anything about me, please, feel free, call me and say, “Peter, people say you were a thief, or you stole when you were in secondary school, or you did not do this.” I will explain it to you, and if it’s true, I will apologize, because I’m a Christian, we do go to confession and they forgive us our sins.”

He said acknowledging wrongdoing was necessary for building a society where younger generations could learn from the mistakes of public figures.

Obi added that Nigeria had no alternative as a country and warned that political instability would affect everyone.

“That’s what makes a society. So, if any of us have done something wrong, come out and tell us. So that the children can learn, so they can be able to know this is wrong, he has admitted wrongdoing.”

He added, “Don’t think that we know everything. Don’t think that we’re everything, no. Please, we have no other nation except this one.”

“And anarchy consumes everybody. If anything goes wrong in this country, please, it will consume all of you.”

Obi criticises spending on government hospitals

The former Anambra governor also called on journalists to investigate government spending on healthcare, alleging that inadequate funding of public hospitals had contributed to the country’s poor healthcare delivery.

He said many Nigerians in rural communities lacked access to hospitals and primary healthcare facilities, forcing some to rely on religious centres for medical assistance.

Obi said the government needed to invest in hospitals rather than leave citizens dependent on faith-based interventions for illnesses.

“I spent time, I listened to you now talk about health, fantastic. But Doctor, my brother, this thing you’re saying can only happen in Port Harcourt. If anybody is sick in my village, the only thing they go to is church to pray, you know, because they have no hospital, they have no primary healthcare.”

He added that healthcare challenges had become so severe that many sick people turned to religious centres because they had nowhere else to seek treatment.

“That’s why if you go to where they’re doing deliverance now, there’s more sick people than in hospital, because there’s no hospital for them to go.”

Obi urged politicians to stop presenting healthcare development as an impossible task, saying journalists should question government spending priorities.

“And it’s not a difficult thing. Let politicians tell you… don’t listen to us that it’s difficult, it’s not difficult. You people help to help us question it.”

He cited the University College Hospital in Ibadan and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, saying they had previously attracted patients from outside their immediate locations but had since experienced a decline in their standing.

“Ibadan used to be a reference clinic, University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital. People were coming from outside. Today, nobody comes. People were coming to Teaching Hospital here in Enugu, today nobody comes.”

The NDC candidate further alleged that the capital budget of the National Assembly Clinic in 2024 exceeded the combined capital budgets of six federal teaching hospitals.

“The budget of National Assembly Clinic, their budget for 2024, the capital budget of their clinic is more than—listen carefully—more than University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital capital budget, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Jos, and Portharcourt put together!”

He urged journalists to verify the figures and use their platforms to demand accountability from public officials.

“You can Google it! That is the problem we have, because nobody… all of us are busy. Imagine if you put it in those teaching hospitals.”

Obi also questioned the funding of the Aso Rock Clinic compared with the National Hospital, alleging that the presidential facility received substantially more funding.

“Consistently, not for this present, the budget of Aso Rock Clinic is almost 10 times the budget of National Hospital. You can’t do that.”

He cited the treatment of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of a political leader relying on a public hospital.

“When Boris Johnson was sick, they carried him to St Thomas’ when he had COVID. There was no clinic in Downing Street.”

Obi urged editors to use their platforms to expose wasteful spending and hold political leaders accountable, warning that the consequences of poor governance would ultimately affect future generations.

“We must… you people must help us. It’s your country. Help us to stop the abuse, or it will take its revenge on your children,” he said.