The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, says “lunatics” have taken over leadership positions in the country.

Obi said over 70 per cent of politicians in the country should not be in politics and need to be flushed out, adding that persons in leadership positions who loot public funds are not greedy but “sick”.

He stated that only a “lunatic” in government will steal N80 billion of the citizens’ money for personal use.

The former Anambra State Governor said this on Sunday at the Men of Valour conference organised by the Revival House of Glory International Church (RHOGIC), Abuja.

The event was held with the theme, ‘Navigating the corridors of power, the church, and the politics’.

Obi said: “Seventy per cent of those who are in politics today should not have any reason to be near there. I have said it before and I will say it again. Politics in Nigeria is a case where lunatics took over the asylum. They must be out.

“You must replace that asylum with people who are competent. This is the only country where the worst is leading; the best should lead. I have served there; I am a trader and I started gradually and entered into politics.”

He added: “How do you think about one person taking N80 billion? $200m? That is sickness. It is not greed. The person is greedy.

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“Greed is taking one N1 billion which he is not entitled to but taking N80 billion is sickness. That is a simple truth. And that’s why I said mad people have taken over.”

Obi further stated that competent people should take over governance, saying it remains the only way to reposition the country.

“If we get more young people who have the competence and capacity to be there, they can start developing these things” he added.

Obi debunked the claims that Labour Party does not have the structure to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election.

The presidential candidate added that when he was contesting Anambra State governorship election, there were claims that he had no structure, stressing that Nigerians and not “anybody” will decide what they want in 2023.

“It is about the people. The people have allowed some group of persons to hijack their country.

“That is why I have said take back your country. It is not theirs. We can’t allow this gangsterism to continue,” Peter Obi said.

The Star