Peter Obi picks up Labour Party's presidential ticket as Pat Utomi stands down for him

FORMER Anambra State governor Peter Obi  has been adopted as the Labour Party's presidential candidate after his sole opponent Professor Pat Utomi stood down at the party’s presidential primary in the Delta State capital Asaba.

Last week, Governor Obi resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and withdrew from its presidential race. He joined the Labour Party where he was expected to stand as their presidential candidate pointing out that he resigned in consonance with his belief of growing a nation of producers rather than consumers.

Accepting his nomination today, Governor Obi said: “I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family.

"I thank Nigerians, especially members of the Labour Party who have gathered here since yesterday to partake in the primaries to choose the person that will fly Labour flag in the forthcoming national elections to choose the president of Nigeria. Therefore, what you are doing today is a patriotic duty towards seeking the desired political emancipation of our dear country, which stands wounded by many years of cumulative leadership failure."

"As a party that represents the workers and masses of this great nation, we are people organised and working for our economic rebirth.  As I am nominated today, I humbly proclaim that the journey towards the emancipation of the country has begun.

"I note with humility that the journey is going to be a collective one that will certainly require the cooperation of critical stakeholders in our country, especially the youth, whose future has been thoroughly degraded. I therefore thank all of you and call for your sustained support towards returning Nigeria to Nigerians from forces of bad leadership and retrogression, such a noble tasks brooks no conscientious objectors."

"We will also seek to unite our nation by pulling our people out of poverty, and creating a new sense of nationalism and patriotism. Nigeria shall rise again: and her people will be proud to claim ownership of her patrimony. Doing so is in our collective national interest."