Peter Obi has decried the state of Nigeria’s democracy under President Bola Tinubu’s government, warning Ondo electorates against collecting “stolen money” from the ruling government in the November 16 governorship election. 

“We don’t want people to give us money which they have stolen from us, and thereafter, they continue to steal more. We want to stop stealing and start rebuilding,” stated the former Anambra governor. “We want to stop the destroying and start the rebuilding. We want to move this country from consumption to production so we can create jobs. That’s why we are here campaigning.”

Mr Obi added, “Ondo electorate should shun vote buying and selling because it’s money which they’ve stolen that they are using to buy them.”

Mr Obi stated this on Monday in Akure while campaigning for the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Sola Ebiseni. 

The Labour Party leader noted that “democracy is suffering in Nigeria now,” accusing the APC of turning “democracy into transitional politics.” 

“But,” Mr Obi stressed, “we still insist that we continue to campaign and tell Nigerians that this is the time to start building a new Nigeria. A Nigeria where a child of nobody is somebody, a Nigeria where there will be equal opportunity. A Nigeria where we put people out of poverty, where our children will be in school, where our hospitals will work.” 

Mr Ebiseni said the Labour Party’s “programmes and policies and even projects are everywhere,” claiming that “everywhere you go to Ondo state, all the projects you see are in the colour of the dress I am wearing.”

The governorship candidate added, “I am deliberately wearing the orange colour, which is the colour of the LP and the colour you will see in every project. Our presidential candidate is here to give support and to let Nigerians know that the LP is the party to vote for.”

Mr Ebiseni will join incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, and 14 other governorship candidates in the election.