Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has announced that if he wins the 2027 election, his administration will pursue dialogue with bandits and violent groups ready to renounce crime, while deploying full military force against those who persist in violence.
Speaking during an interview on BlackBox with Rufai Oseni, the former Anambra State governor outlined a dual-track strategy aimed at restoring security and fostering national unity. He emphasized that building a peaceful nation requires engaging individuals ready for reconciliation, while maintaining a strict stance against unyielding criminals.
“In uniting the country, anybody who wants peace, I will talk with him; I will negotiate with him. Anybody who wants war, we will go to war,” Obi said.
He explained that Nigeria needs to establish clear pathways for the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant individuals, noting that societies progress when they offer a second chance rather than permanent condemnation.
To support his stance, Obi shared an anecdote from a trip to the United States, where he observed former inmates leading an academic institution.
“I once visited a university in America where the entire faculty are people who came out of prison.
“From the dean to the registrar, professors spent years in prison for one offence or the other.
“So, if you say you want to change and be part of this new Nigeria we are talking about, we have reached a point where we have to tell ourselves the truth,” he said.
Beyond security tactics, the NDC candidate tied national safety directly to inclusivity, promising that his governance and developmental projects would span across all regions equitably to eliminate the feeling of marginalization.
“I will unite the country and ensure that nobody is left behind. No tribe is left behind; there would be inclusiveness. We will show love and care for everybody,” the presidential candidate stated.
Obi’s remarks enter a highly polarized national debate regarding the best approach to Nigeria’s security crises. While some security analysts advocate for dialogue as an essential component of peacebuilding, critics worry that negotiating with armed bandits could legitimize criminal behavior and undermine military morale.
This debate has intensified recently, with opponents of dialogue pointing to recent Senate resolutions and warnings from senior lawyer Femi Falana, who cautioned that state negotiations with terrorists could breach existing laws and embolden criminal networks.
With insecurity still affecting multiple regions, Obi’s stance is set to provoke further discussion on how Nigeria should balance reconciliation and military force moving forward.
