Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have taken their campaign to Kaduna State, holding a town hall meeting with residents and other participants. The meeting, organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), provided a platform for citizens to raise questions and discuss issues affecting their communities and the country. Obi disclosed details of the engagement in a statement shared on his Facebook page after the meeting.
The Kaduna town hall meeting followed a similar engagement held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part of the NDC's ongoing interactions with citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections. Obi attended the meeting alongside Kwankwaso and other party candidates. Before the town hall, they visited the Sheikh Muhammad Sambo Memorial Islamic Institute in Rigachikun, Kaduna. The engagement focused on several issues generating concern among Nigerians, including insecurity, poverty, healthcare, education, corruption, fuel costs, and the state of the economy.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the political leaders to hear directly from citizens, rather than relying on reports from officials and party structures. Participants raised concerns, asked questions, and made contributions on issues affecting their daily lives. One of the major areas discussed was insecurity, with Obi stating that the NDC leadership would work towards creating an environment where Nigerians affected by insecurity could return safely to their communities.
Obi specifically mentioned displaced Nigerians who have been unable to return to their homes, communities, and farms due to security concerns. He said addressing insecurity was crucial to restoring economic activities and improving living conditions for affected citizens. The former governor also emphasised the need to reduce poverty and expand opportunities for Nigerians, stressing the importance of investing in sectors such as healthcare and education.
The issue of fuel costs also featured in the discussion, with Obi mentioning corruption and inefficiencies linked to the fuel subsidy regime. He maintained that reducing the burden of fuel costs on Nigerians should remain part of the wider conversation about economic management. The Port Harcourt meeting earlier in September also featured discussions on hardship, insecurity, unemployment, infrastructure, and the state of the economy.
At the Port Harcourt engagement, Kwankwaso spoke about the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, raising concerns over purchasing power, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and insecurity, particularly in Northern Nigeria. The Kaduna meeting further expanded the series of direct interactions between the NDC presidential candidates and citizens. Obi called on other politicians to adopt a similar approach by engaging directly with Nigerians.
Obi argued that direct interaction with citizens was an essential part of democratic leadership, stressing that leaders and aspiring leaders must leave their comfort zones and interface directly with the people they seek to serve. He thanked the NDC leadership, organisers, and participants, stating that the interaction showed the importance of listening to citizens and understanding their concerns before seeking to lead them.
Key points
- Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso hold town hall meeting in Kaduna to discuss issues affecting Nigerians
- The meeting focused on insecurity, poverty, healthcare, education, corruption, fuel costs, and the state of the economy
- Obi calls on other politicians to engage directly with Nigerians, citing its importance in democratic leadership
