Peter Obi, Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, has announced the party’s plan to stop oil theft and use proceeds recovered from ending the criminal acts to solve perennial industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
He spoke at a two days leadership retreat organized by the party to fine tune its strategy for the 2023 general elections, where he also lamented the inability of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government to meet ASUU’s demands.
He said: “ASUU has been going on strike for a long time. They went on strike while I was governor of Anambra State. But to solve ASUU strike is a simple thing.The government is not doing much to end the strike. What does it take to end ASUU strike.Consider the money lost to oil theft. Government can solve the strike in one month by stopping this oil theft.We’ll convert that money lost to oil theft and use it in one month to solve the ASUU strike.”
He also regretted that the country has not been meeting its 1.8m BPD OPEC quota, as he called on the federal government to confront the issue headlong.
He said if elected as President he will focus on solving the myriad of problems confronting the country.Obi also unveiled the party’s online platform where intending members across the world can register for free as card carrying members.
The former Anambra State governor who said that the country must be moved from been a consumption- oriented economy to a production state, regretted the use of ethnicity and religion in leadership selection, adding that Nigerians must take their destinies in their hands.
“The 2023 elections should not be based on ethnicity or religion. It should not be based on my turn.The 2023 election should be based on character, commitment and stand for what is right for Nigeria.”
He criticized those mocking the party of not having structures at the grassroots, as he accused opposition political parties of “putting up structures of corruption.”
He implored the organized labour to hold him accountable to his promises when elected into office.
The National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Waba, and his counterpart at the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, assured the party that organized labour will deploy its structures across the country to ensure victory for the party in the presidential poll.
