Fausat Bello
Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has officially declared his intention to contest for president in the 2023 elections.
He made this known while addressing the royal fathers and Presidents General of the 181 communities in the state at Government House, in Awka.
He said, “I have come to inform you of my intention to contest the 2023 presidential election. I need your support.
“We are all Nigerians and we know how things are shared in the country. Many people had called to ask my position on this matter and my answer then was that I needed to consult widely.
“The reason I called you, therefore, is to officially inform you that I am aspiring for the president of Nigeria in 2023.
“After a careful study of the country, I notice that we’re too divided and I promise to lead a united and secure Nigeria to be able to attract foreign investments.
“The Nigeria I will lead will create jobs, boost our economy, improve education. If I have the opportunity, I will turn around the country for the better.
“I will move Nigeria from a consuming nation to a productive nation. As a Nigerian, I want all parts of the country to be secured. I’m not aspiring for a political position, but to serve the country.
“Let me assure you that I will seriously contest for the president of Nigeria on the platform of the PDP.”
Mr. Obi served as the governor of Anambra State between 2006 and 2014 under the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). In October 2014, Mr. Obi defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He was also the vice-presidential candidate in 2019 to Atiku Abubakar, who has also declared interest to run for presidency in 2023.
Pandora Papers Scandal
In October 2021, an online newspaper, Premium Times, in its investigation marooned Obi in a silly-imperfection, saying he’s not entirely transparent in his affairs as he has touted and likes Nigerians to believe.
The investigation is part of the global International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)-led Pandora Papers project.
The project saw 600 journalists from 150 news organisations around the world poring through a trove of 11.9 million confidential files, contextualising information, tracking down sources and analysing public records and other documents.
According to the paper, Obi is one of the individuals whose hidden business activities was thrown open by the project. He has a number of secret business dealings and relationships that he has for years kept to his chest. These are businesses he clandestinely set up and operated overseas, including in notorious tax and secrecy havens in ways that breached Nigerian laws.
In his interview with Premium Times before the publication, the former governor admitted that he did not declare these companies and the funds and properties they hold in his asset declaration filings with the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Nigerian government agency that deals with the issues of corruption, conflict of interest, and abuse of office by public servants.
He said he was unaware that the law expected him to declare assets or companies he jointly owns with his family members or anyone else.
