Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to make it compulsory for political office holders to seek medical treatment in Nigeria if elected president in 2027, except in cases requiring overseas referral.
Obi also said he would spend his holidays within Nigeria rather than travelling abroad, arguing that political leaders should lead by example by patronising the country’s institutions and local businesses.
He made the remarks on Thursday at the inauguration of the NDC secretariat in Asaba, Delta State.
“We will ensure that those of them who are in power must seek medical care here. Anybody that will go abroad will be for referral,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor said an administration under his leadership would invest in the healthcare system and make hospitals functional enough to provide quality and affordable services to Nigerians.
Obi also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s extended stay in France, linking the President’s absence from the country to what he described as the worsening situation in Nigeria.
“Today, our President is in France. He went for three weeks and he has spent more than three weeks. He is in France and people are dying in Nigeria,” Obi said.
He added: “As President of Nigeria, all my holidays will be in Nigeria. I will go to Agbor for holiday; I will go to Warri for holidays, not France.”
The Presidency has previously described Tinubu’s stay in France as part of a working vacation, saying he remained in contact with officials in Nigeria while away.
Obi also turned his attention to the Niger Delta, expressing concern over the condition of the East-West Road and other federal roads in the region.
He argued that the region contributes substantially to Nigeria’s wealth through its natural resources but has not received infrastructure commensurate with its contribution.
“One thing that I can assure the Niger Delta is that the days you don’t see the impact of your wealth are gone,” Obi said.
“You cannot pass anywhere in the Niger Delta, yet they are producing the wealth the country shares every month.”
The NDC candidate promised greater transparency in the management of public resources, saying Nigerians would be informed about how government funds were being spent.
“We will ensure that this will change and it will change by the way we manage the resources; it will change because we are going to be transparent. We will tell you where every penny is going to,” he said.
