The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has frowned at the recent defections of some political actors, criticising the current administration.
Obi who briefed journalists in Abuja on Wednesday said Nigerian is not experiencing military rule.
“We are not in a military time when you capture people,” he said in reaction to recent defection of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and his Bayelsa counterpart, Douye Diri, to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Describing Governor Mbah as his good friend, Obi said: “I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations.”
The former Anambra State Governor also Obi dismissed claims the South-East could be “captured” politically.
He, however, insisted that leadership in a democracy is about persuasion, not coercion.
“As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people.
“You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere,” Obi stated.
Obi called on public officials to prioritise good governance and policies that directly improve the lives of citizens.
He warning that no amount of political realignment can guarantee loyalty from the people without performance.
“The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it,” he added.