Take a fresh look at your lifestyle.

Presidential townhall meeting: Peter Obi shines, Tinubu missing, Okowa booed

From Obi-Datti Media office

182

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

The first in the series of presidential town hall Meetings organized by the Arise Television, Center for Development and Democracy (CDD) and other partners, in Abuja, on Sunday, almost ended in fracas, as protests erupted over the representation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, by his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

The presidential candidates of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Kola Abiola of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), all attended the townhall meeting, while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu was conspicuously absent with no reason, nor representation.

Shortly before the meeting started, supporters of other presidential candidates insisted that Governor Okowa must step down, since the meeting was for presidential candidates only.

It took several appeals to calm frayed nerves and bring the angry supporters to agreement, for Governor Okowa to stay on at the meeting.

During the question-and-answer session, the former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi stole the show with his consistent verifiable figures which were confirmed by fact check team, led by the Premium Times.

Obi, speaking on security challenges, reiterated his earlier position that pulling people out of poverty is surest way to reduce criminality.

He said that Nigerians must in 2023, avoid electing persons who could not in their past, account for resources entrusted in their official care.

Responding to a question on the oneness of the Office of the President and the Vice President, Obi said the buck stops on the desk of the President, who is the single Commander-in-Chief, even though he works as a family with the Vice President.

However, interchangeability is not automatic, hence the President is required to formally hand over, in writing to his Vice if going overseas for an extended period.

Obi was emphatic on the issue of subsidy, saying that he will remove it, but invest the saved revenue properly, even as he insisted that oil theft is an organized crime which very much involves regulators.

On borrowing, Peter Obi said he has never been against borrowing, but said it must be for production, not for consumption and wastages in government must be blocked to boost revenue and manage the exchange rate.

Speaking about diversification of the economy, Obi said the economy was already diversified, but not enough attention had been made to boost production

Obi said military experience was no prerequisite in tackling security challenges, that what was required was a good understanding of the problems and the ability to apply the right human and material resources for their urgent eradication.

On devolution of power, Obi said women and youth will be the engine of his administration if elected President and his record in Anambra State speaks for itself as women occupied critical positions in his administration as governor, including deputy governor, chief of staff, commissioners for finance, education etc.

Borno State has very low production in agriculture in relation to its large mass of land, but he promised to make this a priority.

On Power, the Labour Party candidate said the production capacity is 12000kw, but this cannot be effectively transmitted, because the transmission capacity is not beyond 6000 kw. He then promised to increase the transmission infrastructure, by declaring war on the power sector.

On flood control, Obi said it was not impossible to effectively check it.

If Egypt had made so much progress in flood control with much bigger flood potential, he argued, the solution lies in the reappraisal of dredging and channeling solutions, many of which had been articulated in the past, but the funds wasted on corruption.

Obi described himself as a wealth creator in his private life, and his public record, and he promised to apply the same principle, if elected to the Presidency.

The town hall meeting lasted for over four hours from 8pm to 11.50pm. Read more.

 

©Copyright 2022 News Band 

(If you would like to receive CURRENT NEWS updates from News Band on WhatsApp, join here; for Telegram, join here. If the group is full, kindly send WhatsApp/Telegram message to +234 905 038 2526. You can also send eyewitness accounts/reports/articles to elstimmy@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @News Band; like our Facebook page: News Band.)

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.