The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said that every presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections must be willing to defend their credentials, records and subject their vision to open scrutiny.

Obi said this on Friday at a world press conference in his home in Onitsha, Anambra State.

While highlighting the need for empathy, the former Anambra Governor promised to visit communities affected by insecurity and flooding to understand their concerns.

He said his core mission includes resettling of Nigeria through national unity, improved security, and transitioning the economy from consumption to production.

“Every candidate must be willing to defend their credentials, defend their records, and subject their vision to open scrutiny.

“True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without standing with the communities across Nigeria devastated by banditry, criminality, terrorism, or flooding,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor said the country was endowed with sufficient human and material resources to overcome its difficulties but required a government focused on production, accountability and efficient use of public resources.

He listed insecurity, food shortages, internal displacement, unreliable electricity, unemployment and the rising cost of doing business among the major problems confronting Nigerians.

According to him, Nigeria must move away from an economy driven predominantly by consumption and imports and instead build its productive capacity.

“Nigeria cannot import its way to prosperity. We will produce more of what we consume, process more of what we produce, and compete more effectively in global markets,” he said.