Peter Obi said, he went ahead with the town hall meeting in Lagos despite the “disruptions and concerns” that encircled the event.
At Oregun, a neighbourhood in Lagos State, Obi, 2027 Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), joined supporters of the Party and participants at the Lagos State edition of the Party’s ongoing series of town hall meetings across Nigeria.
He said, he received information earlier that a cluster of thugs had converged to “attack” participants who arrived earlier at the venue of the meeting.
Via X, the former Governor of Anambra State described “political violence” as an “ill wind”, and said, “it blows no one any good”, assuring, that he alongside the Party’s supporters will remain “law-abiding”.
Obi said: “Earlier, I had been informed that a group of thugs had mobilised to attack participants who arrived early for the meeting. Let me reiterate that the political violence being enabled by certain political actors against our supporters is an ill wind that blows no one any good.
“Anarchy consumes everyone. We will remain law-abiding, even in the face of extreme provocation.”
At the town hall meeting, the participants asked Obi “important” questions, as well as, how the economy of Nigeria will be revived. Also, on how the cost of living will be lowered, among other concerns.
Obi answered by reminding them that, the government’s “first” duty is to ensure the security of its country, and bring unity among its people. He assured of the NDC’s policies to reduce the cost of living, and, make “aggressive” investment in critical sectors of development.
He posted: “In my remarks, I emphasised that the first responsibility of any government is to secure the country and unite its people around a shared purpose. I also outlined our commitment to policies that will reduce the cost of living, improve the welfare of Nigerians,
“and aggressively invest in critical areas of development, particularly healthcare and education, while addressing poverty and the needs of vulnerable citizens.”
On the 2027 General Elections, Obi told the participants, for the electoral process to be protected, then all hands must be on deck. He said, every energy must be merged to protect the votes from the polling units even to the “final collation and declaration of results”.
Obi said: “On the forthcoming elections, I reminded participants that protecting the integrity of the electoral process is a shared responsibility.
“Every effort must be made to ensure that votes are properly protected, from the polling unit through ward collation to the final collation and declaration of results.”
The former African Democratic Congress (ADC) member encouraged the supporters of the NDC to shun violence and remain “peaceful”, as well as, “vigilant” in protecting their democratic rights.
Obi said: “Our party, the NDC, will also fulfil the responsibility to deploy competent agents to polling units to observe and document the process.
“I encouraged our people to eschew violence while remaining peaceful, vigilant, and resolute in defending their democratic rights.”
