The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has promised to spend his holidays within Nigeria if elected president in the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the pledge in his Independence Day address in Abuja on Thursday, saying he would use his four-year tenure to visit different parts of the country and engage directly with citizens.
He said, “In four years as President of this great nation, I will not spend my holidays outside Nigeria. My holidays will be spent in Zamfara State; Borno State; Kwara State; Ebonyi State; Edo State; Ekiti State and other Nigerian States.”
Obi said the visits would enable him to understand the challenges confronting Nigerians and appreciate their resilience.
He added, “I want to continue to see Nigeria. I want to know Nigeria. I want to spend time with Nigerians, listen to them, understand their challenges and celebrate their resilience.
The former Anambra State governor also pledged to make governance more accountable and focused on measurable improvements in the lives of citizens.
He promised that his administration would prioritise security, saying farmers would be able to return to their farms, children would go back to school, and businesses would operate without fear.
According to Obi, “No Nigerian should be forced to live in an IDP camp because his or her government has failed to provide security.”
The NDC candidate criticised the administration of the All Progressives Congress, arguing that Nigeria continues to face widespread poverty, insecurity and a high number of out-of-school children despite promises made ahead of the 2023 elections.
Obi said the country’s problem was not a shortage of resources but the inability of successive governments to translate available resources into improved living standards and economic opportunities.
He also referred to his recent visit to Sokoto State with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where they interacted with communities affected by insecurity, poverty, unemployment, drug abuse and the out-of-school children crisis.
Obi said his visit to an internally displaced persons camp in Ramin Kura, Sokoto metropolis, exposed the difficult conditions facing displaced women and children.
He maintained that the situation in the camp reflected the hardship experienced in several parts of the country.
“The political leaders have failed our country and, most importantly, we have failed our children. This must change,” Obi said.
The former governor had previously criticised the practice of Nigerian presidents spending their holidays outside the country, arguing that presidential vacations should provide an opportunity to visit communities facing security and development challenges.
He said if elected, he would not allow security concerns to prevent him from spending his holidays in Nigeria, including visiting states affected by insurgency and banditry.
