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Peter Obi, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, said in Washington that if elected he will listen to all groups pushing for change and work to unite the country.
Speaking with Nigerians during his visit to the U.S. capital, Obi said his approach will prioritize dialogue and compromise. “I will listen to all agitators, harmonise them and make some sacrifices with a view to bringing the country together,” he said.
Obi’s stance marks a move away from the traditional security-first response to unrest, framing social justice and inclusion as the primary tools for addressing Nigeria’s persistent regional tensions.
His message elevates conversation and reconciliation as means to repair the nation’s geopolitical fractures.
A statement from Ibrahim Umar, spokesman for Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), said some critics have misrepresented Obi’s comments by naming specific figures, notably Nnamdi Kanu, to suggest ethnic motives.
The press release argued that agitation across Nigeria’s regions, including the Southeast, Niger Delta, Middle Belt and parts of the North, is often a symptom of deeper grievances, and that past reliance on military and security measures has failed to resolve those root causes.
POMR’s statement urged that Obi’s proposal for inclusive engagement should be seen as an alternative to suppression, aiming to address underlying problems through listening, justice and compromise.
“By shifting the strategy from active combat to active listening, Obi plans to treat agitators not just as security threats but as citizens with grievances - many of which stem from economic marginalisation, perceived injustice, and institutional neglect,” the statement said.
It maintains that true national unity cannot be coerced; it must be built, adding that the core argument for Obi’s dialogue-first model rests on three main pillars: Many regional agitations are driven by poverty, high youth unemployment, and uneven development. Listening allows the government to identify the socio-economic disparities driving the anger, the statement argues.
Agitation, it noted, frequently flares up when a region feels entirely excluded from the federal power structure.
The statement explains that a conversational approach signals that every region has a legitimate seat at the table. “And democracy, which our principal plans to practise realistically, will encourage structured dialogue to restore faith in democratic institutions and to demonstrate that the state values civic engagement over intimidation.”
It adds: “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice."
This timeless principle underpins the concept of engaging aggrieved factions to find a common, workable middle ground for a fractured nation, the statement maintains.
Peter Obi’s Media Office, therefore, believes that Obi’s stance of listening to agitators is a pragmatic recognition that gun barrel diplomacy has its limits.
“For a multi-ethnic, multi-religious state like Nigeria, unity cannot be enforced by decree. It must be negotiated through shared prosperity, fairness, and mutual respect. A New Nigeria is Possible,” the statement concludes.
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