Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said he would be open to negotiating with bandits and other armed groups if they genuinely embrace peace and are willing to abandon violence.
Obi made the statement during an interview on BlackBox with Rufai Oseni, where he discussed how his administration would tackle insecurity if elected president.
According to the former Anambra State governor, dialogue remains an important tool in resolving conflicts, but only for individuals and groups prepared to choose peace over violence.
“In uniting the country, anybody who wants peace, I will talk with him; I will negotiate with him,” Obi said.
He, however, maintained that his government would not tolerate those who continue to threaten national security.
“Anybody who wants war, we will go to war,” he added.
Obi argued that people who have gone astray should be given an opportunity to change if they sincerely show commitment to becoming productive members of society.
To support his position, he recalled visiting a university in the United States where several senior officials and academics had previously served prison terms before rebuilding their lives.
“I once visited a university in America where the entire faculty are people who came out of prison,” he said.
“From the dean to the registrar, professors spent years in prison for one offence or the other.”
The presidential hopeful stressed that forgiveness, rehabilitation, and inclusion should be part of efforts to rebuild the country, provided those involved are genuinely ready to turn a new leaf.
Obi also reiterated his commitment to national unity, promising a government that promotes inclusion and ensures no region or ethnic group feels marginalised.
“I will unite the country and secure that nobody is left behind. No tribe is left behind; there would be inclusiveness,” he stated.
“We will show love and care for everybody.”
Source: BlackBox Interview with Rufai Oseni.
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