Rebuilding Nigeria
Yesterday, Wednesday, 21 October, I arrived in London at 7 a.m. from Basel, Switzerland. It was one of my busiest days, filled with several engagements, including meetings with stakeholders in the UK.
I rounded off the day in the evening with a meeting organised by the COPDEM Chief and the NDC Director of Diaspora Affairs, bringing together other stakeholders in London.
All the meetings with British government officials and the Nigerian diaspora centred on our collective responsibility to rebuild Nigeria and free our country from the shackles of bad leadership, corruption, and the lack of accountability that continue to undermine our national development. These challenges have deprived millions of Nigerians of access to basic necessities, including quality healthcare, education, and decent employment.
Nigerians deserve a country where every life matters, where hard work is rewarded, and where every citizen has a fair opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or connections.
We must build a Nigeria where the child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody. A country that works for everyone, not just a privileged few.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
@BwalaDaniel@PeterObi I actually don’t know what to say to you!!! Keep eating while it last, because a day is coming that you all will be held accountable
@ParallelFacts God please help Nigerians to remove this corrupt government! Nigeria need a leader who is accountable and responsible!!!! A new Nigeria 🇳🇬 is possible P O ✌️
@donjjazzyy Oh wow — the best prize is getting to chat with you! I’ve got so many things I want to know about you: your favourite things, your happiest moments, what makes you smile… I’m all yours from now right through till morning. Write to me soon, okay? 💛
@fkeyamo We the well meaning people of Nigeria don’t expect anything more than this from you! Keep eating and enjoying your life, remember change is constant ✌️ A new Nigeria 🇳🇬 is possible
@West58_@ParallelFacts If God say Obi will be president of Nigeria, who are you to challenge God ? Maybe you don’t want to live to see Obi becoming president of Nigeria
@HarmlessHQ Datti — the same one everyone said couldn’t even win his own polling unit — was actually out here expecting Peter Obi to pick him as running mate all over again 🤣🤣🤣🤣! Can you imagine? That’s honestly too funny, I can’t stop laughing 😂😂😂
@AishaYesufu Honestly Tinubu has FAILED! The money spent on Costar High Way is enough to repair all the damage Federal roads across Nigeria 🇳🇬 11 billion dollars 😭
@YusufMBuhari You see what your father did to Nigerians citizens by allowing 2023 presidential election to be rigged in favour of a drug dealer and the most hated politician in Nigeria
MY ADDRESS TO MARK THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 2027 PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGNS
21 August 2026
Dear Compatriots,
Members of the Press,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Wednesday, 19 August 2026, marked the official start of the campaign period for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
There is no doubt that this is a defining moment for our democracy. This moment gives Nigerians the opportunity to assess the records, ideas, and plans of those seeking their mandate to lead their country at a time of grave uncertainty in our rapidly changing world.
I consider myself quite privileged to be one of those seeking your mandate to deal with these challenges facing our country.
I enter this contest with one firm conviction: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work.
Nigeria faces several serious challenges. Some of them are indeed of existential proportions.
According to the IMF, 63%, or over 140 million Nigerians, live at or below the national poverty line, while humanitarian agencies estimate that 35 million people will need food assistance during the 2026 lean season. About 3.6 million Nigerians remain internally displaced, largely because of conflict and insecurity. Each year, millions of young people enter the labour market, yet too many struggle to find productive opportunities. Weak infrastructure, unreliable power, insecurity, and the excessive cost of doing business continue to burden households and constrain enterprise.
These are more than statistics. They reflect the daily realities of Nigerian families, farmers, workers, students, and businesses.
Yet I do not believe Nigeria lacks the ability to overcome these challenges. We have the people, resources, market, talent, and enterprise. What we must do now is turn these strengths into security, productivity, and shared prosperity.
LEADERSHIP MUST DELIVER RESULTS
My successful private-sector experience, studies in institutions of repute on policy and business matters, and my service as Governor of Anambra State have shaped my understanding of public leadership. Government must manage resources responsibly, set clear priorities, and measure the outcomes of its decisions. Public office is not a reward; it is a responsibility to the people.
In Anambra, I prioritised the foundations of long-term development: education, healthcare, infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and institutional capacity. I do not present that record as perfect, but as an experience from which Nigerians can draw their own conclusions.
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso brings a different but complementary governing experience.
As Governor of Kano State, he focused strongly on education, technical training, scholarships, infrastructure, and human-capital development. His administration’s investments in education and skills showed an understanding that the people are a state’s most important long-term resource.
Our experiences are different, but our conclusion is the same: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage public resources with discipline.
BUILDING AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS
Nigeria needs more than reactive reforms. We must focus on the questions that matter:
Are Nigerians better off than they were four years ago? Can they afford food, education, and healthcare? Can businesses produce, expand, and create jobs? Can young people find productive work? Can farmers work safely and get their produce to market?
Osun: When the People Stand, Democracy Wins
I warmly congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election and the good people of Osun State on this important democratic victory. They - Osun people - have spoken with courage and clarity, reaffirming that the power to choose their leaders belongs to the people. Through his commitment to the people, compassion for their needs, and the strength of his work and achievements in office, Governor @AAdeleke_01 has earned their renewed confidence and been entrusted once again with their mandate.
I particularly commend the courageous youths of Osun who rose to the occasion and peacefully defended their democratic mandate. Their vigilance and determination demonstrate that when citizens stand firmly to protect their votes, the forces of good can overcome the forces of darkness.
The lesson from Osun is clear: democracy is strongest when citizens are alert, conscious of their civic responsibility, and determined to ensure that their votes count. Every genuine vote must be respected, and every lawful mandate must be protected.
This is also a clarion call as we approach 2027. Nigerians must remain informed, participate actively, vote, and protect their votes. The Nigerian people are the ones experiencing hunger, deprivation, insecurity, and hardship; therefore, they are also the ones with the power, through their votes, to bring about the change that will end these conditions.
I urge all political actors to place the interests of the people above partisan considerations and to embrace peace, unity, and the rule of law. Elections should never be battles of violence, but contests of ideas, competence, character, and service.
May the Osun experience strengthen our confidence in the democratic process and inspire Nigerians everywhere to remain vigilant and committed to building a just, secure, prosperous, and truly people-centred nation.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
'I Never Said Military Should Reject Salary Increase'.
I wish to address a recent
report that falsely attributes a statement to me, suggesting that Nigerian soldiers should refuse any salary increments until after the elections. This assertion is entirely untrue.
My profound respect for our security forces, particularly the Nigerian Army personnel who diligently serve and protect our nation under challenging conditions, is unwavering. I have consistently advocated for the adequate provision of equipment, motivation, and protection for our security personnel.
My concern was palpable when soldiers were lost to insurgents due to a delayed rescue effort, prompting me to question how those defending us could be left vulnerable in their time of need.
Should I be elected President, the well-being, resources, safety, and honour of our soldiers will be a paramount priority. Those who ensure Nigeria's security must never be relegated to a secondary concern. Our soldiers are deserving of our utmost respect, unwavering support, and a government that will unequivocally stand by them. Under my leadership, scenarios where our servicemen and women are left unprotected in the face of peril will be eradicated.
I implore the Nigerian populace to dismiss this misleading report. I remain committed to articulating a clear and consistent vision for a secure and prosperous Nigeria. The realisation of a new and secure Nigeria is indeed POssible. -PO