Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Monday attended the inauguration of the campaign office of the Presidential Candidate of the Allied People's Movement (APM) Seyi Makinde, in Abuja and said his fellow opposition candidate is qualified to become Nigeria’s president.
Speaking at the event, Obi said political differences should not turn opposition politicians into enemies and called for unity after the election.
“[We want] a Nigeria of unity and inclusion.
"We have a candidate who is contesting the presidency today: my dear brother Seyi Makinde.
"Is he qualified to be president?
"Yes,” Obi said.
He said his presence at Makinde’s campaign office was meant to show that politicians could disagree politically without becoming enemies.
“What we are doing today is to show you that, for us, we don’t have desperation.
"We want the people of Nigeria to make their choice,” Obi said.
He urged Nigerians to support whoever wins a free and credible election.
“Whoever they choose, all of us will come together to build a new Nigeria,” he said.
Obi also said political leaders should focus on the problems facing ordinary Nigerians rather than political quarrels.
“We don’t want politics of quarrel, politics of disagreement.
"Let our quarrel be to feed our people.
"Let our quarrel be to pull our people out of poverty,” he said.
Makinde, who is also the incumbent Oyo State governor, used the event to present his “Reset Nigeria” agenda and call for greater transparency in the management of the country’s resources.
He said Nigeria’s crude oil should provide direct benefits to Nigerians and questioned why locally produced crude supplied to Nigerian refineries should be priced at international rates.
“If a community grows food, the people of that community should not have to buy that food as though it travelled halfway around the world before reaching them,” Makinde said.
He also said government must be more open about how it makes decisions and manages public resources.
“Government must show its workings.
"Nigerians must be able to see how decisions are made and how national resources are managed,” he said.
The event brought together opposition figures, including Bauchi Gov. Bala Mohammed and APM vice-presidential candidate Lawal Daura.
Mohammed described Makinde as one of the best human resources Nigeria has produced and warned political opponents against underestimating the APM candidate.
Obi’s appearance has drawn attention because he and Makinde are expected to compete against each other for the presidency in 2027.
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