The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has said that he will not give excuses or blame the predecessors if elected in 2023 general elections.
Speaking at the Editors Forum, an initiative of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), on Monday in Lagos, Obi said that leaders are elected to solve problems and not to be looking at the past and blaming others.
He said that he had studied the country, understood the yearnings of the people and was ready to be a problem solver.
“Next year’s election will based on character, competence, capacity, and ability or commitment to start doing the right thing. I assure you that I am committed.
“It is going to be difficult, but it requires huge mental and physical energy. I want Nigerians to hold me responsible, I will be the commander in chief, and I will drive the process.
“Security, I am going to deal with it headlong. I will be responsible. I won’t take any excuses.
“I want to assure Nigerians that this work, I can do it, and it has to be done. I am not going to give excuses. I don’t want to go in and start studying what to do.
“I don’t want to go in and start complaining and blaming predecessors because if the past was good, you won’t hire me. I am not here to look back. I am here to solve problem,” he said.
According to him, the job of a leader is not to give excuses or complain but to find solutions and deal with issues and build a better country.
He stated, “You hire me to start telling you good story and that is what I am promising Nigerians.
“If they hire me, I am going to tell them (Nigerians) good stories and not to start reminding them about the past and what someone left undone.”
Obi promised to lead by example, fight corruption, supervise projects and bring sanity into the system.
He said that the cost of governance in the country was high and unacceptable, pledging to end all rascality, corruption and wastages if elected to put the country on path of growth and development.
Stressing that the 2023 general elections should not be about tribe, Obi urged the journalists to scrutinise all the presidential candidates, not based on certificate, religion, eloquence, or ethnicity, but character and track records.
“Remember that certificate is not a measure of character and integrity. We are looking for people who will not steal our money.
“So, go and scrutinise all of us. We should vote people based on track record, age, strength because the job requires physical and mental energy,” he said.
Obi was accompanied to the event by Mr Akin Osuntokun, Osuntokun, the South West coordinator of his campaign, Ms Aisha Yesufu, an activist, and Ms Ndi Kato, Spokesperson of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation. (NAN)