By George Omagbemi Sylvester
The presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to embark on a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s governance structure if elected president in the 2027 general election, promising to reduce the cost of governance by scrapping what he described as unnecessary political privileges and redirecting public resources toward national development.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today aired on Monday, July 27, 2026, Obi said his administration would begin cutting government expenditure from its first day in office. He argued that Nigerians have endured significant economic hardship and that political leaders must demonstrate personal sacrifice if they expect citizens to embrace difficult economic reforms.
The former Anambra State governor said he would drastically reduce the size of the Presidential Air Fleet, insisting that Nigeria could no longer justify spending enormous sums on official luxuries while millions of citizens lacked access to quality healthcare, education and other basic services. According to him, resources currently devoted to maintaining expensive presidential assets could instead be invested in hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure.
Obi also vowed to abolish the government bureaucracy surrounding the Office of the First Lady, maintaining that the Nigerian Constitution provides for the election of only the President and not a presidential couple. While acknowledging that his wife would naturally assume the role of First Lady, he said there would be no separate government-funded office attached to the position under his administration.
Highlighting his philosophy of leadership by example, Obi declared that public officials must share in the sacrifices expected of ordinary Nigerians. “If you ask the people to fast, you must fast with them. You can’t ask them to fast while you are feasting,” he said, adding that credibility in governance begins with prudent management of public resources.
Drawing from his experience as Governor of Anambra State, Obi said he had consistently pursued prudent financial management by reducing government waste and rejecting costly administrative arrangements.
He maintained that similar reforms at the federal level would free up resources for productive investments capable of stimulating economic growth and improving the welfare of Nigerians.
On the 2027 presidential election, Obi reaffirmed his willingness to work with other opposition leaders in pursuit of national transformation but stressed that his greatest political alliance remained with Nigerian youths.
He urged young people to actively participate in the electoral process, describing the 2027 election as a defining moment that would shape the country’s future for generations to come.
Leave a Reply