The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has vowed to secure and unite Nigeria, saying this would be his number one priority if elected as president.

Obi promised to lead and task security agencies to locate and rescue all Nigerians still held captive by gunmen, noting that his administration, if elected, would execute a national security strategy to tackle insecurity in the country.

The two-term former governor of Anambra State equally vowed to remove fuel subsidy which he described as “scam”, stressing that his administration will drive out corruption from the country.

He said this via a statement issued on Thursday.

Obi stated that he and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, will offer a new Nigeria which will focus on reducing poverty, creating jobs, and improving technology driven-productivity.

The LP presidential flag-bearer said: “Let me reiterate, securing and uniting Nigeria will be our number one priority and we will do whatever is required to achieve it.

“We will lead and task security agencies to locate and rescue all Nigerians still being held captive by bandits and criminals including Leah Sharibu, remaining Chibok girls, and others.

“Our farmers must return to their farms to feed Nigeria. We will execute a national security strategy starting with three-level (federal, state, local) policing anchored on accelerated human and physical development; drive our national security strategy on data, intelligence, insights, and technology in addition to the enhanced physical presence of our men and women in uniform.

“We will create a cultural, economic, social, political, and policy environment to ensure labour dignity, eliminate government waste, and drive out corruption.

“The scam called oil subsidy will be removed and the cost of governance significantly reduced. Every Naira that government spends will be focused on improving lives and livelihoods to reduce poverty, create jobs and enhance technology driven-productivity.

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“That is the New Nigeria that Datti Baba-Ahmed and I offer to provide and lead.”

Obi, who expressed his appreciation to the members and leadership of the Labour Party for electing him the party’s presidential candidate, said he and his running mate, if elected in Saturday’s presidential election, will lead a “New Nigeria” where unity, peace, love, and prosperity will reign.

The former governor stated that his administration will give utmost attention to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues starting with proper cleaning and restoration of Niger Delta areas ravaged by oil pollution.

Obi added: “Our desire is a New Nigeria where our versed arable lands particularly in the North, our cocoa in the South-West, coal in the South-East and oil and gas in the South-South, our regional linkage location, the entrepreneurial spirit of Obafemi in Ibadan, Abubakar in Kano and Nnamdi in Aba, the unquenchable desire for human capital development, a just and moral oriented society of Mrs. Seember in Makurdi are all harnessed, developed and sustained.

“It will be a New Nigeria with the environment for high-quality goats and rice of Alhaji Bagudu in Kebbi, the desire of Mallam Haruna in Gilani, Yobe State to harness their abundant Kaolin and gypsum, and Mr. Pwajok to develop Potato and rice plantations in Shendam Plateau State and Adani, Enugu State respectively are fully supported.

“With a New Nigeria, both local and foreign investors will be attracted to build a power plant using our coal, gas, water, and sun. MTN and Shell Plc are excited to relocate their technical support office for North Central to Jalingo, and our commercial banks are inspired and secured to host their Annual general meetings in Maiduguri, Gusau, or Damaturu.

“Kayode Omojawa from Ondo State and Helen Bassey from Ogoja, Cross River State will be motivated to convince their parents to allow them to school in Offa, Kwara State due to the excellent infrastructure and secured Nigeria.

“We will build agricultural dams and support every state in Nigeria to plant 10, million economic trees to generate an additional N300,000,000,000 (Three Hundred Billion Naira) per state every year to eradicate poverty and enhance the human capital development of our children and youths.

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“Our government will give utmost attention to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues starting with proper cleaning and restoration of Niger Delta areas ravaged by oil pollution and years of negligence,” he said.

The LP presidential standard-bearer, however, thanked Nigerians particularly the “‘Obedients’ and all our supporters across the country for their abiding faith in us”, urging the citizens to out en-masse on Saturday to cast their votes for the Labour Party.

“We strongly and unequivocally demand that security agencies work round the clock to prevent any further attacks and bring the perpetrators to book.

“We equally call on INEC to conduct the elections with utmost professionalism and impartiality. Election materials must be delivered on time and conducted strictly in line with agreed guidelines.

“The choice of Nigerians must be respected and allowed to prevail! The elections must be free and fair and conducted in an atmosphere of peace,” Obi added.

The Star