Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party and candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of making false claims about his efforts to tackle erosion during his tenure as governor of Anambra State.
Obi dismissed Tinubu’s allegation that he failed to address the erosion challenges confronting the state, insisting that he played a key role in developing the intervention programme currently being used to combat the problem.
The former Anambra governor spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Rhythm FM Jos ahead of the NDC town hall meeting in Plateau State.
His reaction followed comments made by Tinubu at an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, over the weekend.
At the rally, the president questioned Obi’s leadership record, alleging that he abandoned the erosion problem in Anambra while comparing his performance with environmental projects carried out in Lagos State.
However, Obi rejected the claims, explaining that he had personally approached former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua with a proposal to address the devastating erosion problems in Anambra.
According to him, Yar’Adua subsequently directed the then Minister of Environment to develop an intervention programme to tackle the menace.
Obi said: “On what the president said while campaigning in Akwa Ibom, it’s not true. I, working with the former Minister of Environment, developed what they’re using today to fight erosion.
“I went to President Yar’Adua, made a suggestion to him. He called the minister and said he should go and develop it.”
Obi governed Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, a period when several communities experienced severe erosion, resulting in the destruction of homes, roads and other properties.
Meanwhile, speaking about his visit to Plateau State, the NDC presidential candidate said his objective was to engage residents, understand their challenges and listen to their experiences before commencing campaign rallies.
He maintained that political leaders should first understand the difficulties facing ordinary Nigerians before making promises about how they intend to address them.
Obi also expressed concern over the worsening insecurity in parts of central Nigeria, stressing that citizens must be able to return to their communities, engage in farming and carry out their businesses without fear of attacks.
He said improving security, education and healthcare would be among his administration’s major priorities if elected president.
According to him, children must be able to attend school safely, while farmers and other business owners should be able to pursue their livelihoods without threats to their lives.
“Unless children go to school without fear, unless parents go to farms without fear, we don’t have a country,” he said.
Obi further stressed that access to quality education and affordable healthcare remained essential to national development.
“You cannot stay in a developing country and a developing world if you have poor health accessibility and poor education accessibility. Education and health are the foundation for development. I will invest in them,” he added.
READ ALSO:
- FCT Indigenes Demand Elected Governor, State Assembly, More Federal Constituencies
- Obi Accuses Tinubu Of Lying Over Anambra Erosion Control Record
- Gbajabiamila Admits Fuel Subsidy Removal Has Made Life Difficult for Nigerians
- Air Peace Removes Passenger From Abuja-Bound Flight Over Threatening Remarks
- Court Discharges Mompha From Alleged ₦6bn Money Laundering Charges
