Peter Obi Breaks Silence on Claims He’ll Divide Nigeria, Makes Bold Promise

• Peter Obi has dismissed claims that he would divide Nigeria if elected president, insisting his record demonstrates a commitment to national unity.

• The NDC presidential candidate cited humanitarian interventions and development projects across northern Nigeria as evidence of his inclusive leadership.

• Obi also denied allegations of making divisive remarks against northerners, describing the claims as false.

• He urged Nigerians to focus political discourse on poverty, insecurity, education and healthcare rather than personality-driven debates.

July 26, () — Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has rejected allegations that he would deepen divisions in Nigeria if elected president, insisting that his political record demonstrates a long-standing commitment to national unity.

Speaking during an interview on Sunday Politics on MEDIA TODAY, Obi responded to remarks by former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, who questioned his ability to unite the country.

The former Anambra State governor said his actions over the years, rather than political rhetoric, reflected his commitment to all parts of Nigeria.

“I will unite Nigeria, and I know what it takes to unite Nigeria,” Obi said, dismissing suggestions that his leadership would be divisive.

To support his claim, Obi cited a series of humanitarian visits and interventions across northern Nigeria, particularly in communities affected by conflict and natural disasters.

He recalled travelling to Borno State during the early stages of the Boko Haram insurgency to condole with Sheriff after the killing of the former governor’s brother.

“At the onset of this Boko Haram issue… his own brother was killed. I travelled to Borno State to console him. When people didn’t want to go there, I went to Borno State,” Obi said.

He also said he later returned to the state following severe flooding, where he donated ₦50 million, met with the state governor and the Shehu of Borno, and visited internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

According to Obi, his humanitarian engagements have extended to several northern states, including Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and Sokoto, as well as communities in Benue affected by insecurity.

He said he had spent Christmas and New Year periods in IDP camps and had supported projects ranging from boreholes to educational and healthcare facilities across different parts of the country.

Obi also pointed to interventions at institutions such as the agricultural faculty of Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, where he said he funded the construction of a borehole after the university requested support.

Obi Unveils Unity Vision for Nigeria

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The former governor argued that his extensive travels across Nigeria had given him a better understanding of the country’s diversity and challenges.

“There is no politician today in Nigeria… that has been able to travel places that I have been by road, because I want the country to be together, and I understand the people,” he said.

Addressing broader concerns about Nigeria’s longstanding political and ethnic divisions, Obi said the country should acknowledge its history without allowing it to shape its future.

“A Peter Obi presidency will commence the healing and the unity that is required to stabilise and build a better Nigeria,” he said.

He added: “We have a history, but we must not be trapped in it. It must not deprive us of tomorrow.”

Obi said his vision was to build a country where opportunities were determined neither by ethnicity nor religion but by citizenship.

“I want the child of Nigeria to be able to grow up in Nigeria, go to school, and live his life without thinking about his tribe, without thinking about yesterday, without thinking about his religion, but as a Nigerian, proud of it,” he said.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate also denied allegations that he had made comments portraying northerners negatively, describing such claims as false.

“That’s a lie. It never happened,” he said.

Obi sought to reinforce his position by highlighting what he described as long-standing relationships with northern Nigerians and Muslims.

He said his aide-de-camp while serving as governor was a Muslim from Kano and that the cooks who served him throughout his eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra State were northerners.

He also said his administration sponsored Muslim pilgrims from Anambra to perform the annual Hajj and that he currently supports Almajiri schools in Kano and Bauchi, as well as a School of Nursing in Bauchi.

Turning to national Politics, Obi argued that public debate should focus on Nigeria’s pressing socio-economic challenges rather than personalities.

He said issues such as poverty, insecurity, education and healthcare deserved greater attention from political leaders and the electorate.

“Instead of us discussing the problems of the country, people come before you to discuss Peter Obi,” he said.

Obi maintained that his administration, if elected, would pursue an inclusive approach to governance aimed at ensuring every region and group felt represented.

“I will never divide Nigeria. I will unite Nigeria. I will show love to every part of Nigeria and make sure things are done differently, because I’m going to involve everybody,” he said.