The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has reaffirmed his commitment to preserving Nigeria’s unity, while criticising President Bola Tinubu over a past comment attributed to him on the country’s unity.

Obi said he believed in one Nigeria and remained committed to ensuring the continued unity of the country, contrasting his position with a 1997 statement attributed to Tinubu.

Speaking on Arise Television on Thursday, Obi said, “Today we have a President who said he doesn’t believe in one Nigeria but he is sitting as the President. I believe in Nigeria.”

The NDC candidate added, “Yes, Tinubu said he doesn’t believe in one Nigeria but I believe in one Nigeria, I’m committed to it and I want that unity.”

Obi was referring to an interview Tinubu reportedly granted ThisDay in April 1997, during the military era, in which the former Lagos politician was quoted as saying, “I don’t believe in one Nigeria.”

At the time, Tinubu was an active member of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, a pro-democracy group that opposed military rule and campaigned for the restoration of democratic governance.

NADECO, formed in May 1994, was one of the prominent groups that demanded an end to military dictatorship and the return of civilian rule, which was eventually achieved in 1999.

Tinubu subsequently became the Governor of Lagos State following the return to democracy.

Obi, who is expected to contest the 2027 presidential election on the NDC platform, said Nigerians should distinguish between historical events and the actions or positions of individuals today.

He also rejected attempts to hold him responsible for events that occurred when he was a young child.

“This is him saying it, I didn’t say that but you can’t hold what happened when I was barely three or four years old against me, it’s in the past and there are other things that happened subsequently,” Obi said.