Says Northern Population Is Nation’s Next Oil
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has advocated the establishment of state police as an effective solution to the scourge of terrorism ravaging the country.
Obi made the call while speaking on
Channels Television’s Politics Today, on Monday evening.
He said that the quest to secure the country and create an atmosphere for growth and development tops his agenda.
He said that he would adopt a decisive and immediate solution to the problem of insecurity in the country.
Obi who said that the worsening insecurity has become worrisome to all Nigerians advocated that all 36 states should be responsible for the security of their people.
He said that all the governors would be given the power to secure their states with the Federal Police reporting to them.
“This security situation has become a completely worrisome situation for everybody concerned. I feel the Federal Government should do more.
“If I have the opportunity, every state will be responsible for their own security. I will make sure that the governors are given the powers to secure their states. Even if we have federal police, they will be responsible and report to the governor.
“For me, I have said it repeatedly that if I have the opportunity, we will deal with the situation head-on. There are so many things that we want to put in place in order to ensure that we secure the country.” He said
Obi also said that there is a possibility of seeking technical assistance from advanced countries to help fix the security challenge.
Obi also said that one effective way he would address the insecurity in the country is to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
It was his contention that people who are engaged in productive activities would not venture into crime.
Obi who responded to comments by the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, that it would take a miracle for him to be President, noted that his entire political journey which started in Anambra State has been a miracle.
He said that he was waiting for the bigger political miracle to happen in 2023.
In his reaction to Atiku’s claim that 90 percent of northern youth were not on the social media where Obi is strong, the LP Candidate said when he becomes president he would solve that problemand convert the North to the nation’s “new oil” by investing in education.
“Well, that’s the problem I’m coming to solve as the Nigerian President. I have said it before that the north will be our new oil, i will convert that population to wealth through Production.
“I will invest in education so that those who don’t know how to operate the internet in the north, will learn how it is done. The North is our new oil.” He said
Obi criticized the Federal Government for failing to honour the 2009 agreement reached with Academic Staff Union of Universities which is at the root of the prolonged industrial action by the lecturers.
He bemoaned the closure of public tertiary institutions in the country since February 14, 2022 and called for more investment in education.
