*Explains how he ended workers strikes in Anambra
*Insists borrowing for consumption is evil
*Predicts economic boom, progress if Labour Party wins
By Ezechukwu Chidozie, Abuja
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Gregory Obi has emphasised that he will discuss with agitators all over the country if elected in the February 25th presidential election.
He made the statement during The Peoples Townhall, a live interview organised for presidential candidates and their running mates by Channels Television and its media partners on Sundays.
Asked to explain what he meant by dialogue with agitators, Obi pointed out that all over the country, people have every reason to agitate, stressing that it is their fundamental rights which government must address, instead of clamping down on such agitators.
“We are in a democratic dispensation; you govern by discussing, you govern by consensus. So, I will sit down and discuss with every agitator without exception of name. We must use carrot and stick (approach).
“I will discuss with those who want to discuss. You have to look at what is causing agitations today; it is issues of injustice, issues of where there is no fairness, issues to do with poverty, unemployment.
“When you start to address these issues and you engage those agitating in discussions and you start bringing them to the table, no agitator anywhere in the world will see reason that things are going the way they ought to and will continue to agitate because they are agitating for something,” he stated.
Insisting that discussion is the best way to end agitations, the former Anambra State governor said that no agitator anywhere in the world will continue to agitate when they see that things are working the way they should or when they are given cogent reasons why certain decisions are being taken by the government.
The LP flag bearer maintained that agitation is not out of place in any democracy, arguing that even at home, children agitate, but when their parents sit them down and explain things to them, they see reason and eventually agree with them.
He said that Nigeria will continue to be in crisis if the government continues in what he described as “injustice, unfairness, poverty, unemployment and young people not knowing where the next meal will come from”.
Obi further examined that there was nothing wrong with borrowing, but emphasised that the mistakes that got Nigeria to over N77trn debt stock was occasioned by mindless borrowing for conspiring, stressing that it is the easiest way to kill the economy of any country.
He promised to borrow money for only strategic investments and deployment in critical sectors of the economy, and not “to subsidise the greed of some powerful people or simply on something that is want only to be consumed”.
He explained that Japan, one of the most industrialised countries globally, is in huge debt stock, but emphasise that the ratio of their debt to GDP remains one of the lowest in the world.
Mr. Obi predicted economic boom for the country if he is given mandate to run the country, stressing that with Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, who he said is acclaimed successful businessman, Nigeria will witness the magic touch that made both of them succeed in private businesses.
He also said he would deploy the skills and strategy which Baba-Ahmed had deployed in running a successful university and hospital and combine same with how he successfully ran Anambra as Governor and push the country from current gloom to prosperity, same way he took Anambra from last position to first position in virtually every human development index.
Asked questions on why there was prolonged industrial action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Nigerian Medical Asociation (NMA) while he was governor, Obi drew attention to how resolved those strikes he met, emphasising that with what he put on ground and the resolution mechanisms, there has never been any form of strike in the state up till now, stressing that he had to adopt unorthodox skills in ending the stalemate and set the right paradigm which is propelling excellence in the state up till now.
Obi emphasises that eduction and health must be given priority, saying he would put in place a working lone scheme that would no longer trouble parents on how to pay their children’s school fees, as well as how to access good health services if elected as president.
Obi cited instance with countries that have succeeded and moving forward, saying he will adopt same style in managing the oil sector so as to bring everyone into the scheme, including those being dubbed as operators of illegal refineries.
Datti-Ahmed, who also spoke, said he would make available how vault of experiences to advise his principal on critical sectors that would guarantee improved education paradigm, health, agriculture, technology and security.
Both of them emphasised the need for Nigerians to critically analyse the integrity quotient of the candidates, as well as their involvement in corruption issues, stressing that they remain the only presidential ticket with no scrintila of corruption around them, stressing that their candidacy is what Nigeria needs if it should begin to make progress.
