Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has declared that if elected, his administration would pursue dialogue with bandits and other violent groups willing to abandon criminality, while deploying force against those who remain committed to violence.

Obi stated this during an interview on BlackBox with Rufai Oseni, where he outlined his “balanced approach to restoring security and national cohesion in the country” if elected.

The former Anambra State governor said lasting peace would require engaging individuals and groups prepared to embrace reconciliation and contribute positively to nation-building.

“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.

According to him, Nigeria must create pathways for rehabilitation and reintegration for individuals who genuinely renounce violence and demonstrate readiness to change.

Obi argued that societies advance when they provide opportunities for redemption rather than permanently condemning people for past mistakes.

To underscore his position, he recalled a visit to a university in the United States, where he said several members of the institution’s leadership had previously served prison terms before rebuilding their lives and careers.

“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.

The NDC presidential candidate also linked security to national unity, insisting that every part of the country must feel represented in government and national development.

He said his vision for Nigeria is anchored on inclusiveness, fairness and equal opportunities.

He stressed that no ethnic group or region should feel marginalised.

“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 noted.

The remarks add to the ongoing debate over whether negotiation, military action or a combination of both offers the most effective strategy for tackling Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.

The position also comes amid debate over the effectiveness of dialogue as a security strategy.

While some analysts support engagement as part of a broader peace-building process, opponents insist that talks with armed groups risk legitimising criminality and undermining military efforts to restore order.

In recent days, critics of negotiations with bandits have pointed to resolutions of the Senate and comments by senior lawyer Femi Falana, who warned that government-backed negotiations with terrorists could violate existing laws and send the wrong signal to criminal elements. (Daily Trust)

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