The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to spend his holidays within Nigeria if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Obi made the commitment in his Independence Day address delivered in Abuja on Thursday, saying he would use his proposed four-year tenure to visit different parts of the country, engage with citizens and gain a better understanding of their challenges.
He said, “As I have always done, I will lead by example. In four years as president of this great nation, I will not spend my holidays outside Nigeria. My holidays will be spent in Zamfara, Borno, Kwara, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti and other Nigerian states.
“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 promised that his proposed administration would pursue measurable and accountable governance, with a focus on the welfare and productivity of Nigerians.
“As President of Nigeria, I will make governance measurable, accountable and centred on the welfare and productivity of our people. Within the first year, Nigerians will begin to see the tangible impact of purposeful and effective leadership,” he said.
Obi also pledged to tackle insecurity, saying his administration would seek to enable farmers to return to their farms, children to resume schooling and businesses to operate without fear.
He said, “We will confront insecurity decisively so that our farmers can return to their farms, our children can return to school, businesses can operate freely, and families can live without fear.
“No Nigerian should be forced to live in an IDP camp because his or her government has failed to provide security.”
Obi said Independence anniversaries should serve as periods for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s progress and challenges.
He criticised the All Progressives Congress-led administration, arguing that Nigeria continued to face significant problems despite the promises made by the government in 2023.
“Despite the enormous promises made by the APC-led government in 2023, our nation continues to face deepening challenges across virtually every critical sector of national life,” he said.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s challenges were not primarily caused by a lack of resources, but by the failure of successive administrations to translate available resources into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity.
The NDC candidate also spoke about his recent visit to Sokoto State with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where he said they held consultations on insecurity, poverty, unemployment, drug abuse and the number of children out of school.
He said their visit to an internally displaced persons’ camp in Ramin Kura, within Sokoto metropolis, highlighted the difficult conditions faced by displaced women and children.
“Instead, they live as displaced persons in their own country. What we saw in Ramin Kura is not an isolated story. It is a reflection of the suffering experienced, in different forms, across many parts of Nigeria.
“And yet, while ordinary Nigerians struggle with these realities, this present government often behaves as though these problems belong to another country.
“The political leaders have failed our country and, most importantly, we have failed our children. This must change,” Obi said.
His latest pledge follows comments he made about a month earlier criticising the practice of Nigerian presidents spending holiday periods abroad.
Obi had argued that the president should remain in Nigeria during holidays and use the period to visit communities and engage directly with citizens.
“Nigeria’s president must spend his vacation in Nigeria. We cannot continue with this nonsense. Where do other countries’ own send their vacation?
“The President should go to Zamfara, to Borno, to Anambra, to anywhere. As President of Nigeria, I will visit other countries, but I will not take my holidays there.”
When asked about the security implications of spending holidays in states affected by insurgency and banditry, particularly Borno, Obi maintained that security concerns should not prevent the president from spending vacation periods within the country.
He also compared the approach with that of political leaders in other countries, arguing that the Nigerian president’s conduct should reflect a direct connection with citizens and the country.