Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has declared that he would not appoint himself Minister of Petroleum if elected President in 2027.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the former Anambra State governor stated that he would uphold the Constitution and the Federal Character principle in all appointments, emphasising that every ministry under his administration would have a substantive minister.

Peter Obi, a key figure in the newly formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress, ADC, criticised the current practice where the sitting president also holds the petroleum portfolio—a path followed by both Muhammadu Buhari and the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I will govern with the constitution of Nigeria. I will respect the Constitution of Nigeria. I will govern within the laws, the government will obey the law,” Obi said.

“I will do appointment by federal character. I will appoint competent persons with capacity and compassion for the good of Nigeria, people that are worthy of remuneration.

“So I’m not going to be Minister of Petroleum. Every ministry will have a substantive minister with competence, character, compassion and capacity to run that place.”

Obi outlined the priority areas of his prospective administration to include security, education, healthcare, agriculture, and power.

“Things that as President, I will have first hands reported to me on a daily basis or real time is number one, security of life and property of every Nigerian citizen.

“Number two is basic education of our children, 18 million people, it is more important for Nigeria to invest in education than oil.

“Nigeria’s population is a huge asset. I will make sure that I know everything that happens about the health of Nigerians, starting from primary healthcare, ensuring we increase insurance coverage with little pay.

“I will make sure that I know what happens with agricultural products, which will drive the foundation of our manufacturing. I want to know what power we are generating daily and distributed daily.

“And I want to look at the SMEs, the manufacturing, to ensure that they are properly supported with adequate interest rates,” he said.