Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has promised that he will not spend his holidays abroad if elected President in the 2027 general election.
Obi made the pledge in his Independence Day address in Abuja on Thursday, saying he would instead use his holidays to travel across Nigeria, interact with citizens and gain first-hand knowledge of the challenges confronting different communities.
The former Anambra State governor said his proposed four-year tenure would see him spend holiday periods in states including Zamfara, Borno, Kwara, Ebonyi, Edo and Ekiti.
“As I have always done, I will lead by example. In four years as President of this great nation, I will not spend my holidays outside Nigeria,” Obi said.
He added that the purpose would be to “see Nigeria,” understand the country better and engage directly with Nigerians.
Obi also promised that his administration would make governance measurable and accountable, with emphasis on the welfare and productivity of citizens.
According to him, Nigerians would begin to see what he described as tangible results of effective leadership within the first year of his administration.
On insecurity, the NDC candidate pledged to take measures aimed at enabling farmers to return to their farms, children to return to school and businesses to operate without fear.
He also said no Nigerian should be forced to remain in an internally displaced persons camp because of failure by government to provide adequate security.
Obi used his Independence Day address to criticise the performance of the APC-led Federal Government, arguing that Nigeria continued to face challenges including poverty, insecurity, unemployment and the large number of children outside school.
He said the country’s difficulties were not primarily caused by a lack of resources, but by what he described as the failure of successive governments to translate Nigeria’s resources into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity.
The former governor also referred to his recent visit to Sokoto State alongside his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where they engaged stakeholders on insecurity, poverty, unemployment, drug abuse and out-of-school children.
Obi said their visit to an internally displaced persons’ camp in Ramin Kura, Sokoto metropolis, exposed the hardship being experienced by displaced women and children.
He maintained that such conditions required greater attention from government and a stronger connection between political leaders and citizens.
The promise to spend holidays within Nigeria is not entirely new. Obi had previously criticised the practice of Nigerian leaders travelling abroad during vacation periods, arguing that a president could use such periods to visit different parts of the country and interact with citizens.
The NDC confirmed Obi and Kwankwaso as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2027 election at the party’s special convention in May.
