Obi explained in an interview with journalists shortly after he met an educator, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed introduced his comrade-in-arms.
"As for the past government inquiry, let me tell you: you see me arguing that you cannot shut down your shop and chase down thieves, those who only look at yesterday and today will miss tomorrow. God didn't give us eyes backwards, mine should look ahead.
“If you come into government today and decide to stop the leak first, you will get more. I will not be part of any form of victimization or witch hunts, that will not happen. Nigerians must live within law and order.
"But I can tell you that right away. If you, the principal, the head of the local government, the governor or the president don't steal, don't steal your family and your environment, you will reduce it by 70 percent," added the former Anambra state governor.
While announcing Baba-Ahmed as his running mate, he said the former lawmaker was well-qualified to bring his commercial and academic achievements to the quest to save Nigeria from primitive politics of ethnicity.
Obi added that the LP will anchor its manifesto to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the coming days.
He added: "I have the honor to introduce someone I can call a friend, a younger brother and, God willing, the next Vice President of Nigeria on behalf of Senator Yusuf Baba-Ahmed.
We made that choice and Datti and I sat down and talked about it. I said to him, “What we are doing is not just the two of us.” We are bringing all Nigerians into this big tent where everyone will be involved because we want to end the primitive politics of ethnicity and religion. We now want to replace that with competence.”
In accepting his nomination, Baba-Ahmed, owner and founder of Baze University, Abuja and Baba-Ahmed University, Kano said Nigeria was in deep trouble and he could not afford not to attend people around the country to rescue.
Baba-Ahmed said: “I remain humbled and grateful for this reflection forever. My task is simple and it is to accept this nomination and this candidacy. Just before I do that I should normally give a rationale as the main reason for being on this ticket is to save Nigeria. It goes without saying that you can only save what is in trouble. Nigeria is in big trouble. I cannot afford not to be part of the movement to save Nigeria.
Party leader Julius Abure said the party had proved to people that it could accomplish any feat, adding that the event sent a clear message.
Meanwhile, the party has said that an Obi Baba Ahmed presidency will create a better and united Nigeria, free of ethnic and religious sensibilities.
But speaking to Saturday PUNCH, the party's national PR secretary, Arabambi Abayomi, said the issues surrounding the Buhari regime and candidates from the All Progressive Congress, the People's Democratic Party and others showed that Labor was ready to rule Nigeria.
“You can see the IDs on the Obi Baba Ahmed ticket. For us, Nigerians should expect unity from an Obi Baba Ahmed government. Nigerians should expect a change in our production. Nigerians should expect jobs,” Abayomi said.
"With an Obi Baba Ahmed government, we will be more united because Buhari has divided us along ethnic and religious lines. Obi and Baba-Ahmed are real Nigerians who came out to say they want to rule Nigeria not on ethnic and religious lines.”
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