I am ready to die for Nigeria — Peter Obi

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Party, Peter Obi, has declared his readiness to die for Nigeria, stating that genuine leadership demands the ultimate sacrifice in the face of the country’s worsening security crisis. The former Anambra State governor spoke in a recent episode of the Black Box interview on Nevon HQ with journalist Rufai Oseni, posted on Tuesday. He was asked what he would do as Commander-in-Chief to rescue kidnapped schoolchildren held in the bush, address the beheading of teachers and respond to the killing of senior military officers, including generals. Although he did not outline specific operational strategies, Obi stressed the need for commitment and decisive leadership. “I have fought criminality in Anambra. Commitment solves the problem for everybody,” he said. He recounted how, during his tenure as Anambra’s governor, notorious kidnappers were forced out of the state. Obi referenced an interview of a prominent kidnapper known as Vance, who he said admitted that criminal operations became untenable under his administration. “One government. It’s either I’m in charge or they’re in charge. One person must be in charge. “We declare war. If you’re ready to lead, you must be ready to die. If you’re not ready to die, go home,” the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election added. When directly asked if he was ready to die for Nigeria, Obi replied, “Yes.” He added, “Tomorrow. If I’m outside this country and there’s war, I’ll come back. I’m a Nigerian. I’ve never had any reason to have any country’s passport… God created me a Nigerian. And I’m ready to die here.” The remarks come amid persistent banditry, kidnapping for ransom and attacks on schools and security personnel across several parts of Nigeria. In May, 40 students and teachers were abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State. One teacher was killed during the attack, another was beheaded in captivity, while others are yet to be released. A former military spokesman, Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.), was abducted alongside his wife on May 30, 2026, in Katsina State. He was later confirmed dead, while his wife was rescued days afterward. Obi lamented the rise of non-state actors challenging state authority and expressed confidence that committed leadership could restore Nigeria’s military glory. He recalled how Nigerian troops once helped maintain peace in various global hotspots, including Liberia, Sudan and Kuwait. The presidential candidate argued that detailed operational plans are secondary to the fundamental issue of willin