2027: I'll Negotiate With Bandits Ready for Peace, Fight Those Who Reject It — Peter Obi



By Abdulahi Musa 


Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said that if elected president in 2027, his administration would adopt a dual approach to tackling insecurity by engaging in dialogue with violent groups willing to embrace peace while deploying force against those who refuse to abandon criminal activities. 


Obi stated that lasting peace and national unity would require listening to aggrieved groups and addressing the root causes of conflict. According to him, individuals or groups genuinely interested in peace would be given an opportunity for dialogue and reintegration into society. However, he stressed that those determined to continue violence and criminality would face the full weight of the law and the state's security apparatus. 


The former Anambra State governor explained that negotiation should not be viewed as a sign of weakness but as a practical strategy for restoring stability in areas affected by insecurity. He maintained that government must be willing to engage stakeholders in conflict zones while simultaneously strengthening security operations against unrepentant criminals. 


“In uniting the country, anybody who wants peace, I will talk with him; I will negotiate with him. Anybody who wants war, we'll go to war,” Obi said while outlining his security vision. 


The NDC presidential candidate also emphasized the need for a broader and more coordinated response to insecurity, arguing that military action alone cannot solve Nigeria's security challenges. He called for policies that address poverty, unemployment, injustice and other factors that fuel violence across the country. 


Obi's comments have added to the ongoing national debate over whether dialogue, amnesty and peace agreements should form part of Nigeria's strategy for dealing with banditry, terrorism and other forms of violent crime. 

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