Former governor of Anambra, Mr. Peter Obi has emerged the flag bearer of the Labour Party ( LP) for the 2023 Presidential election.
Obi was elected at the party’s presidential primary, which held on Monday in Asaba, Delta state.
Prof. Pat Utomi, Eragbe Anselm, national youth leader of LP and Olubusola Olufolake, had earlier stepped down from the presidential race.
Obi joined the LP after his recent resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he was a presidential aspirant.
He said his decision to join LP aligns with the interest of Nigerians across different sectors, adding that he wants to take the country from consumption to production. In his acceptance speech, Obi promised to return Nigeria to its rightful owners.
He promised to ensure the security of Nigeria in every ramification, create employment, pull people out of poverty, and create a new sense of nationalism and patriotism.
He said if elected President, he will place a high value on production, and unite Nigerians.
“I thank Nigerians; especially members of the Labour Party who have gathered here since yesterday to partake in the primaries to choose the person that will fly the Labour flag in the forthcoming National election to choose the President of Nigeria.
“History beckons. Nigerians remain hopeful for a national rebirth, which implies returning Nigeria to Nigerians – farmers, teachers and students, lecturers, artisans, workers, pensioners and over a hundred million poor Nigerians who are not sure where their next meal will come from.
“Therefore, what you are doing today is a patriotic duty towards seeking the desired political emancipation of our dear country, which stands wounded by many years of cumulative leadership failure.
“Painfully, our current dysfunctional system rewards unearned income and conspicuous consumption; allows university lecturers to remain on strike for months; keep our youths at home; and owe pensioners, who gave their patriotic sweat and their youthful energy to serve this country.
“The despicable contrast is that those responsible for the mess -those elected to take care of them – have abandoned the national currency and are living in opulence and like kings, spend dollars to buy delegates as well as houses all over the world. Meanwhile, they owe most workers, lecturers and retirees.
“Yes, our country stands hijacked by forces of retrogression. We are almost zero in all indices of development. As a result, our future, especially those of the youth and generations unborn is in ruins. We have become a laughing stock among other nations, including African countries where we were once revered”, the former governor said.
