The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said the sentiment of religion and ethnicity are tools of manipulation by never-do-well politicians.
Peter Obi said all Nigerians across religions and tribes are suffering economic hardship and hunger as a result of bad leadership. He noted that no religion or ethnic group in Nigeria is treated better or has access to social amenities because of religion or tribe.
Obi said this in an interview which Why Not Afrika posted on its X handle on Wednesday. He said failed political leaders manipulate the poor citizens along ethnic and religious lines to capture power.
The former Anambra State Governor said, “In Nigeria, we don’t have religious and tribal issues. This sentiment is brought about by incompetent, unqualified, never-do-well leaders. So they use this as their only means of engagement or to capture votes.
“The general populace is poor, is living in deep pain, hungry. So this becomes a tool of manipulation to them.
“There is no part of Nigeria where any tribe buys bread cheaper. There is no part of Nigeria that is not hungry; there is no part of Nigeria that gets uninterrupted electricity because they are from that part, no part of Nigeria that has pipe-born water.
There is no religion that buys food cheaper. If they don’t buy food cheaper why is anyone talking about religion?
“So I don’t know where this is coming from. But I can tell you it is a tool of manipulation. The country has failed over the years, and its leadership failure.”