The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has revealed that he is not a saint or a criminal.
The former Anambra state Governor noted that people must be stopped from embezzling public funds.
He added that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria as the country is blessed in terms of land, water and other resources but the only thing lacking is good leadership.
Obi stated this at a colloquium and Hall of Fame in honour of the National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure in Benin City organised by the Edo Policy Round Table in association with Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State on Thursday.
He said: “I am not a saint, and I am not a criminal. I have never done anything that is wrong. I have served the state (Anambra), and I have served in the private sector. Today, we are going through difficulties (in Nigeria). If you do not plan, you have planned to fail.
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“Planning is a critical component. The reason countries are failing today is due to a lack of plans/implementation. When politicians are campaigning for elective positions, everything is sweet and good, but when you have the opportunity to serve the people, then you will bring out your true self, and start doing the opposite.
“We can have a better Nigeria. When we have a better Edo State, we will have a better Nigeria. Working together, we can employ our people. There is nothing wrong with Nigeria. Nigeria has one of the best, in terms of land, weather, and God-given resources and it has some of the best people in the world, but the only thing God has not given Nigeria is leadership. If we have good leaders in this country, we will do better.
“A country as Nigeria has no reason to be poor, if not because of leadership. We have more resourceful young people in Nigeria. We have leadership in Nigeria that is engulfed in wasteful consumption, but no production. When you move from consumption to production, you will create jobs for the people.”