The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has indicated his willingness to negotiate with bandits and other violent groups, provided they demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace.
Obi disclosed this during a media interview with journalist Rufai Oseni, who questioned his stance on negotiating with criminal elements if elected president. The NDC candidate emphasized that his administration would prioritize national unity, stating that his government would engage any group ready to renounce violence and contribute to rebuilding the nation.
“In uniting the country, anybody who wants peace, I will talk with him; I will negotiate with him. Anybody who wants war, we will go to war,” he said.
Obi argued that individuals who have made past mistakes should be granted an opportunity to reform if they prove their commitment to peaceful coexistence.
To illustrate his point on rehabilitation, he recalled a visit to a university in the United States, noting that several individuals within the institution's leadership structure had previously served prison sentences but were successfully reintegrated to serve society.
“I once visited a university in America where the entire faculty are people who came out of prison. From the dean to the registrar, professors spent years in prison for one offence or another. So, if you say you want to change and be part of this new Nigeria we are talking about, we have reached a point where we have to tell ourselves the truth.”
Obi said his approach to governance would be anchored on inclusion, national cohesion and ensuring that no ethnic group or region feels excluded.
“I will unite the country and secure that nobody is left behind. No tribe is left behind; there would be inclusiveness. We will show love and care for everybody,” he said.
