From Ben Dunno, Warri
As the 2027 general elections draw near, a member representing Okpe/Uvwie/Sapele constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon Benedict Etanabene of the Labour Party (LP), has vowed to mobilise support and openly campaign for the presidential bid of Mr Peter Obi if he secures the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket to contest.
Etanabene, who made this known during a media parley on Monday at the party’s secretariat in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, said he believes in and shares the mission and vision of Peter Obi for a better Nigeria.
While stating that many Nigerians may not know the brilliant ideas the two-time Anambra State Governor possesses to improve the lot of Nigerians, the lawmaker noted that he has absolute confidence in both the administrative competence and visionary leadership Mr Peter Obi has to offer in moving the nation forward.
According to him, what Nigeria needs is a person who is prudent and able to manage the economy to achieve the desired results that would put smiles on the faces of Nigerians once again.
Etanabene said he supported Peter Obi’s idea of joining the ADC coalition to take over the government in order to end the economic challenges Nigerians are currently facing, and he is prepared to be part of his campaign team, even while in the Labour Party, ahead of the 2027 general election.
His words: “I share in his vision for a better Nigeria, and if it means gathering others together to achieve that, it is a good venture. So, I support his movement in joining the ADC to the extent of providing credible opposition against the government of the day.
“I will desire further that he is accorded the presidential ticket in the ADC. I am in no small way committed to the emergence of a person like Mr Peter Obi as the President come 2027.
“I don’t look at Mr Peter Obi from the level of charisma or that he was the Governor before. There is this trait in him that I think Nigerians will need today.”
According to the federal lawmaker, the problem with Nigeria is not a lack of brains or manpower capacity to steer the affairs of the country, but rather a lack of the mentality of prudence, adding that the limited resources of Nigeria are mismanaged in ways that do not bring about economic growth and development to the nation.
He said that instead of investing such limited resources in the health sector, education, security, and other vital areas, the government is interested in buying a new presidential jet and official cars, renovating buildings with billions of naira, and constructing coastal roads with trillions of naira while the existing ones are in a deplorable state across the country.
Continuing: “Take, for instance, the former President Buhari died in a hospital in London. For me, this is a national disgrace because I don’t see any reason why such hospitals abroad cannot be replicated here in the country for the benefit of our people.
“The problem we have with Nigeria is not so much whether we don’t have the brains to run Nigeria or we don’t have the manpower capacity to run Nigeria. What we don’t have are people with a mentality of prudent spending.”
Etanabene, who reiterated that there is no crisis in the Labour Party, assured Nigerians that should they rally support for Mr Peter Obi regardless of their party affiliations, the country will be well managed to make the people happy once again.
He said: “I believe that every well-meaning Nigerian, irrespective of any party, so long as you are in opposition, should rally round Mr Peter Obi to become the President of this country.”
The federal lawmaker, who stated that Mr Peter Obi came in 2023 under the platform of the Labour Party in the wake of hunger and frustration in the country, which made the party popular, noted that the country needs a man with the ability to save the nation from further peril come the 2027 general elections, adding that the person is none other than Peter Obi.
