OBI URGES NIGERIANS NOT TO VOTE IF THE CANDIDATE IS SICK.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, has advised Nigerians not to entrust the governance of a sick country like Nigeria to a sick man.

Obi made the remarks at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as part of his nationwide campaign ahead of the presidential election on February 25.

“This country is sick and should not be given to a sick person. I’m not implying that anyone is ill. We’ve been here for over two hours; we don’t want people who can’t stand for 30 minutes,” Obi said during a Q&A with the varsity’s Business School.

He identified character and trust as two critical qualities to look for when hiring leaders to steer the nation’s affairs for the next four years.

“During elections in the United States, they go to debates. Someone once asked Barack Obama personal questions, and he responded. But, in Nigeria, someone wants to run for office, but we don’t know his true age, his name, or the schools he attended. Nobody knows his true identity, and he is determined to lead everyone.

“Hello, my name is Peter Obi. I attended Christ the King College and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Today’s VC and DVC were both classmates of mine. We started university the same year and graduated the same year. My seniors and juniors, whom I attended school with, are still present today. How did we get to the point where people no longer have classmates? This is extremely important.”

The former Anambra State governor, on the other hand, admitted that not everyone can be educated equally or formally, but everyone’s records must be clean.

“Afe Babalola once told me that he was never able to attend a formal school. Nothing is wrong with that. There have been many successful people who did not attend formal school.

On corruption, he said, “If you say you will fight corruption, let’s go to the road you have passed and see what is remaining there after you left,” stressing that “this year’s election must be based on competence as it requires physical and mental energy. It is not a job for retirement.”