Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party
The popular slogan, “Obi no dey give shishi,” have become a household slogan in the Obidient movement, of which Movement For Change Worldwide (MFCW) is an arm. The slogan that has mostly been misinterpreted and often misconstrued by opponents of the Labour Party Nigeria, and have associated it with thriftiness and the absence of gratification for his followers.
It is true that wealth is built by savings and prudent spending, which is typical both for nations and individuals.
In the sixty-two years of our independence, no successive government has so far been able to manage our resources prudently. That is why development has eluded the country, rather we have degenerated, and that has led to the heightened state of insecurity, hunger and poverty, regardless of the amount of revenue the country generates.
This has been the case all these years as we continually witness unabated corruption, misappropriation and mismanagement of the nation’s resources by the government. The Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi personifies prudence, which he has exhibited throughout his years in office as governor of Anambra State. He has a personality that is devoid of wastefulness, and while in government he exhibited exemplary diligence and unparalleled level of accountability.
No elected political office holder or government appointee has demonstrated such high level of integrity and prudence in the nation’s history. His record is in the public space and is verifiable. Peter Obi has recounted, on every occasion that opportunity is granted to him, how he saved so much money, yet was able to achieve fiscal growth in Anambra State than any of his predecessors.
Obi left billions of Naira for his predecessor in Anambra State and secured millions of dollars in foreign investment for the State. He is known to always avoid superficial spending, and always cut down cost to the barest minimum in the award of contracts and expenditure.
This habit of thriftiness is what is now commonly referred to as, “Obi no dey give sisi,” a slogan in pidgin English, which means stinginess. Obi is a personification of the popular Chinese proverb; “give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but show him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Obi will not give us shishi, but will empower us with a means of livelihood, build schools for our children and upgrade our universities. He will improve the power generation and distribution capacities, construct good roads and connect our rural communities, reactivate our hailing oil industry, revitalise the steel sector, open up our seaports and make them more viable.
Obi will not give shishi, but will ensure the military is equipped and trained to rebuff the prevailing insurgency and reclaim the farmlands under captivity across the States in the northern parts of the country, and help to revitalise the farming sector. He will not pad the budget and will ensure he reduces wasteful expenditure and awards of previous contracts.
Peter Obi will not give shishi, but he will give us a better life.
March Oyinki, President, Movement for Change Worldwide, MFCW.
