Peter Obi praises Tinubu govt over Nigeria-Ethiopia prisoner swap, laments deaths of four Nigerians

Mr. Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress’s (NDC) presidential candidate, has praised the Federal Government for successfully negotiating a prisoner exchange deal between Ethiopia and Nigeria, calling it a welcome humanitarian intervention.

Obi commended Ethiopian authorities, Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu for successfully concluding the lengthy negotiations in a statement released on his X handle on Tuesday.

He claims that the conversation emphasizes how crucial it is to defend the rights and dignity of Nigerian citizens, irrespective of their location or situation.

Obi, however, expressed sorrow over news that at least four Nigerians had perished in Ethiopian captivity during the negotiations and offered his sympathies to their relatives.

“Learning that at least four Nigerian citizens died while being held while this diplomatic and administrative process dragged on over the past few years is heartbreaking,” he said.

Many of the impacted Nigerians, according to the former governor of Anambra State, were young persons detained while traveling through Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport in pursuit of better chances elsewhere.

Obi said the incident emphasizes the need to solve the economic issues that push many young Nigerians to look for opportunities abroad, while also asking Nigerians to abide by the laws of the nations they travel to.

He emphasized that in order to reduce mass emigration and the hazards that go along with it, Nigeria needs to expand its economic prospects, enhance its educational system, and establish an atmosphere that rewards hard work.

Obi also demanded that correctional facilities be properly managed, with a focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into society, once the transported inmates return to Nigeria to complete their sentences.

He called on the government to utilize this occurrence as a reminder to create a country that empowers, values, and protects its people.