•When a president or governor is personally not corrupt, corruption in that government is already reduced significantly By Onochie Anibeze What was intended to be a brief exchange at the airport lasted over thirty minutes as we discussed major issues dominating Nigeria’s politics. Despite waiting to board his flight, Peter Obi answered every question without appearing rushed. Read Also: Fake agency originated from Buhari government — Budget Office explains PFIPC allocation I began with security, an issue that weighs heavily on Nigerians.
I asked what his immediate priorities would be if elected president. He responded that the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property. He stressed that insecurity cannot be solved by military force alone but requires improved intelligence, better coordination among security agencies, modern technology, proper welfare for security personnel, and a deliberate effort to address poverty, unemployment, and hopelessness, which often create conditions for criminality.
The conversation moved naturally to the economy. On the government’s reforms, Obi acknowledged that reforms are necessary but insisted that they must be carefully planned and compassionately implemented. Nigeria, he argued, must move from consumption to production by investing in agriculture, manufacturing, and small businesses.
When I mentioned the criticism that his proposals often sound attractive but lack sufficient detail, he smiled and said his economic philosophy remained straightforward: reduce the cost of governance, eliminate waste, block leakages, encourage production, and create an environment where businesses can thrive. To illustrate his point, he compared Nigeria with Bangladesh. Despite having a land mass of only about one-sixth that of Nigeria and a much higher population density, Bangladesh produces roughly ten times more rice than Nigeria.
He noted that Northern Nigeria is endowed with vast expanses of fertile land and has the potential to become the food basket of Africa. “If we secure the North, invest in modern agriculture, expand irrigation, improve rural infrastructure, and guarantee farmers access to finance and markets,” he said, “there is no reason Northern Nigeria cannot become the food basket of Africa.” He added that agriculture should no longer be viewed merely as a subsistence activity but as an ex…
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