Obi highlights policy thrust, lists subsidy, looters, economy, security as priorities

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, in an interaction  at Harvard University, with emphasis on Prospects of Transformative Governance in Nigeria, gave insight on how he intends to deal with the issues of subsidy, corruption, security, economy and others after the 2023 general elections.

Obi identified  two elements in subsidy, which he said are the corruption component and the real subsidy component. He asserted that the  current petrol subsidy regime is fraught with criminality.

“It is unacceptable. For the corruption, we will deal with it decisively, “Obi declared; saying, “Our action will reduce the subsidy cost by over 50%.”
Obi said that the Labour Party government will offer Nigerians a new brand of transformative and purposeful leadership. he said that Nigeria is not bereft of good governance ideas and plans, noting that weaknesses of public institutions and lack of political will to enforce policies and strategies are responsible for poor implementation of policies and the resultant poor outcomes.

Obi, therefore, declared: “Hence, the overall goal of my administration shall be to streamline governance, make it more responsive, transformative, effective, less transactional, and efficient and cost-effective.”
Obi stated that they will provide Nigerians
leadership that has competence, capacity, credibility, and commitment. “We will pursue intangible assets of good governance, rule of law, security of lives and properties; we will ensure that we have these assets in place and stress asset optimization,” he declared.
Obi said the Labour Party government sustain Nigeria’s foreign policy on existing Afrocentric. Hesitated: “Africa will remain the centrepiece of our foreign policy. We will strike a strategic balance that allows us to promote and protect national interest, while meeting our ECOWAS obligations.

“We will rebuild Nigeria’s military power, promote economic growth, and enhance its technological prowess with a view to improving Nigeria’s diplomatic influence in sub-regional, regional and global affairs.”

He maintained: “restoring leadership will require that we reassert proactively Nigeria’s leadership role in African affairs through constructive engagement, peacekeeping duties, and using existing sub-regional and regional forums as well as bilateral platforms for dialogue on current and emerging challenges. We will continue to enhance our sphere of influence via peacekeeping, and trade and investment initiatives.”
Obi said that securing, uniting, and making Nigeria productive require steady and trusted hands. He, therefore, declared: “we shall ensure that in moving Nigeria forward, no state or community will be left behind. “Pursuant to its statutory responsibility to protect, our government will promote equity in power and resource sharing. There must be a renewed sense of patriotism; that will come through leadership by example.”

The Labour Party presidential candidate stated that restructuring is a process, not a one-off event. He emphasized: “if we have a real federation, the federating units will enjoy discernible autonomy. Resources will also be shared equitably.

“A higher derivation paid to oil or solid minerals producing states will not be tantamount to other states not receiving federal allocations that should keep them viable. We must transcend the rhetoric that bedevils a robust debate on some of these national questions.”
He further declared: “we will respect the principles of federal character, affirmative action and gender balance…”

Obi noted that the relevant security institutions and agencies exist. He added that the supporting national security enabling documents and strategies also exist. He, therefore, declared: “we will tweak the security architecture, which will entail reform of the security sector and governance.

“We will Restructure, Reequip and Reorient the Nigerian Police: This will include three-level policing- Federal, state and community. We will build a Compact, Robust and Ready Mobile Police Force with Rapid Response Deployment capabilities; and Legislate the Establishment of State Police based on Community policing. We will raise the population to police officer ratio to a higher level.

“A properly manned, equipped and technologically driven security system with particular emphasis on re-focusing the military on external threats and border protection and police on internal security threats and law enforcement; swift prosecution of criminals, bandits and terrorists; enhanced coordination among security agencies; and upholding the rule of law.

“Integrate the activities of the National Intelligence and Security Agencies by establishing a Central Reporting Intelligence loop under the authority of the Minister of National & Homeland Security. Establish a National Command and Control Coordination Center for the efficient management of actionable intelligence, resource allocation and force deployment. Membership should consist of representatives of all security agencies on a need-to-know basis.”

he expressed belief in continuity in governance, noting that each extant policy must be considered and if need be, reviewed on its merit.

He said that the oil theft is not petty pilfering. According to him, “it is organized crime by a syndicate that involves a certain degree of sophisticated intelligence and logistical arrangement. We must admit that oil theft is happening because there is domestic and external collusion. The government and the people have the collective responsibility to protect national assets. On my watch those responsibilities will be accorded high priority.”

Obi further said that foreign and national security policy initiatives might in the long-term entail rebuilding, repositioning, and sustaining ECOMOG, as the arrowhead of a West African Security partnership. “This is to counter terrorist threats and international subversion of the sovereignty of the West African region of which Nigeria must re-establish her place as a regional power,” he said.