By Udeze Ekene

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said he would not mind collaborating with other politicians ahead of the 2027 election.

Speaking in an interview with News Central, Peter Obi said he was ready to collaborate with any politician, including the former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

He, however, noted that the focus of such collaboration must be on helping the citizens and not just to win elections.

When asked if he could collaborate with Kwankwaso, he said, “I’m ready to collaborate with anyone who is interested in lifting people out of poverty. If the collaboration is for state capture or just to win election, I will not be part of it.

“I will not join anybody for state capture or for winning the election. I want anybody to tell me how are we going to ensure that no child is left behind, how are we going to put those millions of out-of-school children back in school.”

When asked if he could be the vice president of any other politician, Obi said if he sees anyone who can do it better than him, he can be the Vice President, adding that he is not desperate to become the President of Nigeria.

He stated, “Quite frankly, for me, I’m not desperate to be Nigerian president. I am desperate to see Nigeria work. If I see people who can do the work better, I will.

“I even have people who say I should not come out in 2027 and I said to them, offer yourself. And we will not put everybody on a scale.

The former governor of Anambra State also disclosed that he has no plan of leaving the Labour Party.

“Yes, I would be here, and if anybody is coming for us to negotiate or to come together, he must tell me what his purposes,” Obi added.