Next Year: Ezekwesili Reiterates Her Backing for Obi's Bid

Dr Oby Ezekwesili, the former Minister of Education, has reaffirmed her backing for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, as the 2027 election approaches, while also advocating for a new direction that tackles national governance, human dignity, and the shortcomings of Nigeria's political system.

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Ezekwesili, who previously served as vice president for the World Bank's Africa region and co-founded the #BringBackOurGirls movement, expressed these views on Arise TV's 'Prime Time' show on Monday, where she also highlighted her role as founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance.

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She recalled that, based on her leadership criteria, she would still support Peter Obi, the ex-Anambra State governor, in the 2023 election, stating that he would rank higher than other candidates.

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Ezekwesili noted that her stance remains unchanged, saying "I don't think that anything has really significantly changed," in reference to her decision to support Obi.

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She cautioned against focusing solely on Peter Obi or any other presidential candidate in the debate over Nigeria's future, emphasizing the need to look beyond individual personalities.

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Ezekwesili stated "Don't make this about Peter Obi, I don't want us to personalise, I'm interested in the construct," highlighting her desire to examine the broader issues at play.

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She lamented the low value placed on human life, stressing that it is time for Nigerians to vote for their chosen leaders and take control of their destiny.

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Ezekwesili criticized the current state of the country, saying "What we have to show for it is the complete collapse of the dignity of the human being and the dignity of life," and argued that the status quo needs to be rewritten.

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She challenged Nigerians to take action, saying "I am challenging that and saying that Nigerians should at least vote for themselves, if no one votes for you in terms of the leaders you're choosing, vote for yourselves."

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Ezekwesili argued that the country's problems are a result of design rather than destiny, saying "The greatest tragedy of the country is this resignation—that this is our destiny, I say no, this is by design, it is not our destiny; this is by design."

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She emphasized the need for change, stating "This design needs to be challenged, the design that we run right now has not worked for us; we do need to design again."

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The former Minister of Education urged capable Nigerians to participate in the political process by contesting offices at the local, state, and federal levels.