Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has pledged not to appoint himself as Minister of Petroleum if elected president in 2027, distancing himself from a trend adopted by former President Muhammadu Buhari and the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, Obi said he would uphold the Constitution and ensure all ministries under his administration are led by qualified, substantive ministers—adhering strictly to the Federal Character principle.
“I will govern with the Constitution of Nigeria. I will respect the Constitution. I will govern within the laws, and the government will obey the law,” he stated.
Obi, who is now a prominent figure in the newly formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stressed that his cabinet would reflect competence, character, capacity, and compassion.
“So I’m not going to be Minister of Petroleum,” he said. “Every ministry will have a substantive minister with competence and capacity to run that place.”
Highlighting key areas of focus for his prospective administration, the former Anambra State governor listed security, education, healthcare, agriculture, and power as top priorities.
“Things that, as President, I will get first-hand reports on daily include the security of lives and property, the education of our children—18 million of them out of school—and the health of Nigerians, starting from primary healthcare,” he said.
Obi also noted his plans to boost agriculture as a foundation for industrialization, closely monitor power generation and distribution, and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through improved interest rates and financial access.
He concluded by reiterating the value of Nigeria’s human capital over oil, saying, “It is more important for Nigeria to invest in education than oil.”
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