ABUJA, NIGERIA – Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, has addressed the possibility of a merger between the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a recent interview on NoireTV-GlobalBlackTV, released on YouTube, Obi also reacted to the prospect of being supported by Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, in the 2027 election as a Southeast candidate.
Gratitude and Focus on National Welfare
Responding to the interviewer’s question about Abubakar’s potential support, Obi expressed gratitude for Abubakar’s statement. “I commend him and I’m grateful for his statements, especially where he said he will support me if it (the presidential ticket) goes to the South East,” Obi said. However, he emphasized that his main concern is the well-being of Nigeria and its citizens rather than personal political ambition. “I’m not desperate to be president, I’m desperate to see Nigeria work, especially for the poor people because we have a lot of potential,” he stated.
Openness to a Strategic Merger
On the topic of a potential merger between the PDP and LP, Obi expressed his openness to the idea, but only if the merger’s goal is to improve governance in Nigeria. “If the merger is to be able to govern Nigeria properly, unlock all those things that will make Nigeria a better place, I’m for it,” he said.
Obi made it clear that he is not interested in mergers or alliances solely for gaining power or winning elections. “If it’s just a merger for election or state capture, I’m not for it or part of it, I don’t want to be part of anything like that,” he asserted.
Emphasis on Unity for National Progress
The former governor of Anambra State stressed the importance of unity and cooperation among individuals and parties, but only if the objective is to build a better Nigeria. “It might be at the party level, it might be at the individual level, might be at any level, but we must come together to be able to build a better Nigeria,” he concluded.