2023: I’m More Qualified Than Bola Tinubu — Peter Obi

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has said that he is more qualified to be the president of Nigeria than the All Progressive Congress standard flagbearer, Bola Tinubu.

The former governor of Anambra State disclosed this during an interview with Vanguard Newspaper.

Though, Obi in the interview was reacting to the statement of the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shettima who said he can only become the president of Igbo ethnic stock.

Obi while responding to Shettima’s diatribe  said that such remarks debases the polity and questions the unity and the love Nigerians should have for each other.

According to Obi, INEC has outlined the qualifications for contesting the elections which he fulfilled.

The former Fidelity Bank director wondered if there are other qualifications required by INEC that Shettima’s principal possesses that he do not.

Obi however added that he is more qualified than Shettima’s principal to contest for the office of the president.

“I’ve heard all sorts of things from people and some are statements that should not be made by people who are in leadership position. One of the presidential candidates once said a section of the country will not vote for me and now another one. Such statements, for me, debases the polity and questions the unity and the love we should have for each other.

“INEC has stated the qualifications for contesting the elections which I’m sure I’ve fulfilled and I do not know the special qualification his principal, the APC candidate, possesses that I do not possess and I think I’m more qualified than his principal for that office.

“Is it age qualification? Is it education? Is it in terms of being an entrepreneur? I believe that anybody can be more qualified than me. But I’m qualified. His principal is a two-term governor, I am a two-term governor too. I’ve managed public resources comfortably and effectively to the best of my knowledge. I’m not saying other people didn’t do well. I’m not saying others are not qualified. But I’m saying that if we look at what we have been able to do in the past, I’m very very qualified to be the president of the country. Unless there is another qualification unknown to law and the public. Such statements are statements that have made us bring people who are not competent and people who are not qualified to lead us and that is why we are where we are today.

“I’ve heard people say ‘Obi can make a good vice president to be in charge of the economy.’ But Nigeria’s problem is the economy. So, a player you know is very good is the one you want to put on the bench, then you are not ready to solve the problem of the country. If you solve the problem of the economy, insecurity will be reduced in a way. Once the economy is good you can unite the country because once people are productive and are doing well, they will not care about tribalism or religion. And I have said my job is to remove the country from consumption to production.”