By BONIFACE AKARAH

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has unveiled an ambitious programme to tackle insecurity, corruption, poverty and unemployment, promising to resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their communities within his first two years in office if elected.

Obi, who is running alongside former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, made the commitments in a policy address titled “A New and Productive Nigeria Is Possible, and Nigeria Will Be OK,” in which he outlined his vision for rebuilding the country and sharply criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The former Anambra State governor described Nigeria's current economic and security challenges as evidence of failed leadership, citing poverty, rising debt, unemployment, insecurity and poor electricity supply among the country's major problems.

He claimed that more than 140 million Nigerians were multidimensionally poor, representing over 63 per cent of the population, and accused the Tinubu administration of worsening economic hardship despite the removal of fuel subsidy and increased borrowing.

Obi also alleged that about 16 million Nigerians had been pushed into extreme poverty in the current year, while arguing that the government's economic policies had not translated into a corresponding improvement in national productivity.

Taking aim at Tinubu's recent remarks during the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna, Obi accused the President of blaming past administrations and opposition leaders instead of accepting responsibility for the country's condition.

He said the President lacked the competence, capacity, character, compassion and commitment required to address the nation's challenges.

Promises decisive war against insecurity

On security, Obi promised a tough response against banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality, declaring that his proposed administration would combine an amnesty offer with decisive law enforcement.

“The OK ticket makes the same firm commitment to securing our people.

“Enough is enough.

“Bandits and kidnappers must understand that our amnesty offer will take effect when our victory is announced.

“Any crime committed after our inauguration will be dealt with decisively. Using every lawful means necessary, we will identify the perpetrators and their sponsors, dismantle their criminal networks, and restore order, stability and freedom of movement.”

He further promised that internally displaced persons would be returned to their communities within two years of his administration, with support to rebuild their lives.

“Within our first two years in office, we will resettle internally displaced people in their communities and empower them to rebuild their lives with dignity,” he said.

Obi also pledged to restore farmers' access to their farmlands, arguing that improved security would be essential to reviving agricultural production and addressing food shortages.

Promises electricity reform, industrialisation

On electricity, the NDC candidate criticised the country's power situation, saying unreliable supply was undermining businesses, hospitals, schools and households.

He promised an electricity reform programme focused on reliability, affordability, investment and accountability, working with federal and state institutions, regulators, operators and investors to address challenges across generation, transmission and distribution.

Obi also placed agriculture and industrial development at the centre of his proposed economic recovery plan, promising to support farmers, encourage local processing and develop industries around the comparative advantages of different states and regions.

He said: “We will launch an agrarian revolution whose hallmark will be to enhance value addition and make agriculture a supplier of adequate and affordable food for Nigerians and a major export earner.

“Our focus will be on ensuring that Nigeria becomes globally competitive in agro-products where we have comparative and competitive advantage.

“We will turn Northern Nigeria, with its enormous land resources and its hardworking people, into an agro-industrial cluster that boosts Nigeria’s industrial capacity and growth.”

He added that his administration would encourage smallholder farming, establish processing facilities close to farming communities and support agricultural exports.

Targets education, healthcare and teachers' welfare

Education and healthcare also featured prominently in Obi's policy proposals, with a pledge to work with state governments to improve primary, secondary and technical education.

He promised better teacher training, improved remuneration and welfare packages, declaring that teachers would be among the highest-paid groups in the country under his administration.

“Our government will work with state governments to improve the quality of primary, secondary and technical education, including training more teachers and guaranteeing them improved remuneration and an improved welfare package.

“Our government will ensure that teachers are among the highest-remunerated groups in Nigeria.

“In addition, we shall subsidise education to ensure that no child or able Nigerian is left behind in the pursuit of education,” he stated.

The NDC candidate also promised targeted subsidies for critical sectors, including education, agriculture and energy, arguing that such interventions would support citizens and stimulate economic growth.

Vows to wage unprecedented war against corruption

Obi accused the Tinubu administration of allowing corruption to spread across public institutions, alleging that the country had suffered a crisis of values in which budgets, laws and institutions had been weakened.

He recalled the APC's 2015 campaign warning that corruption would destroy Nigeria, arguing that the situation had become worse under the party's current administration.

Citing Singapore's founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, Obi referred to his position that corruption entrenched across political and bureaucratic structures required a thorough cleansing beginning from the highest levels of leadership.

He pledged to make the fight against corruption a defining priority of his presidency.

“With the courage and integrity required for this task, I intend, if elected, to follow this principle by leading a decisive campaign against corruption—like it has never been fought in this country before,” he declared.

He said the proposed administration would be guided by fairness, justice, equity, accountability and a commitment to national productivity.

Obi, Kwankwaso seek support for NDC

Calling on party members and Nigerians to support the NDC ticket, Obi said the country needed a new direction built around shared purpose, inclusion and development.

“I, Peter Obi, with my very dear elder brother, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, implore and beckon all of you, committed members of our great party, the NDC, and all Nigerians, to join us in this crusade of rebuilding our dear and most endowed nation, Nigeria.

“Today, we begin a renewed journey towards a New Nigeria, united by shared purpose, founded on fairness, justice and equity, and committed to productivity, inclusion and development.”

He said his vision was for a country where prioritised the security and welfare of citizens, public officials remained accountable, every child had access to education, and corruption no longer weakened public institutions.

Obi concluded by promising to reduce the cost of living and lift Nigerians out of poverty, expressing confidence that the country could overcome its present difficulties.

“A New and Productive Nigeria is Possible, and Nigeria will be very OK!” he declared.