Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has stated that he will not verbally attack President Bola Tinubu or any other political office holder. He emphasized that disagreements in politics should center on policies, performance, and accountability. Obi made these remarks at the 2026 All Nigeria Editors' Conference in Enugu, with the theme "The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive."
Obi stressed that he respects Tinubu because he occupies the office of President, but this respect will not prevent him from questioning the administration's decisions or criticizing policies he considers inappropriate. He highlighted that political discourse should not degenerate into personal attacks, regardless of differences between politicians or parties. Obi cited his track record, stating that he has never abused anybody in government, including President Tinubu.
The former Anambra State governor urged journalists and editors to scrutinize political leaders based on their records, public statements, and qualifications. He argued that the conduct of leaders could influence the values of society, emphasizing that leaders must exemplify and live by the values they promote. Obi's comments come amid renewed debates over his record as governor of Anambra State.
Recently, Obi addressed controversy surrounding multilateral development funding obtained by Anambra State during his tenure. He insisted that he did not personally borrow money or issue bonds on behalf of the state. According to Obi, the funding described as "debt owed by Peter Obi" largely comprised concessionary development-support funds secured by the Federal Government for participating states.
Obi challenged the Anambra State Government's claim that about $123.77 million in facilities were inherited from his administration, citing debt records published by the Debt Management Office. He stated that DMO records showed Anambra's external debt at about $18 million when he assumed office in 2006 and about $30 million when he left office in 2014.
The former governor also claimed that he left more than $150 million as the dollar component of his investment in Anambra State, which could have generated about $10 million annually for the state. Obi maintained that his administration left Anambra in a strong financial position and announced that he would no longer engage in exchanges over his tenure as governor.
Obi stated that his focus is now on issues affecting Nigerians, which he described as the reason for his presidential ambition. He emphasized that his goal is to promote policy-based discussions and hold leaders accountable for their actions.
Key points
- Peter Obi will not verbally attack President Tinubu, focusing on policy disagreements instead.
- Obi emphasizes the importance of policy-based discussions in politics.
- Obi challenges the Anambra State Government's claims about inherited debt from his administration.
