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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has urged leaders and citizens alike to reflect deeply on the country’s current state.
Obi warned that Nigeria is “urgently in need of rescue from further decay,” highlighting the nation’s challenges across economic, social and security sectors.
He made the call on Tuesday in a statement he shared on his X handle in commemoration of the nation’s 64th Independence Day.
While acknowledging the significance of independence, Obi emphasised that this year’s celebration should be a time for sober reflection, especially for the nation’s leadership.
“Today is a day to appreciate God for abundantly blessing us with natural, human, and material resources to build a great nation,” Obi said.
However, he stressed that the country’s abundant resources have not translated into meaningful progress.
He emphasised, “For me, this should also be a day of sober reflection for every Nigerian, especially for us, the leaders, whose actions and inactions have contributed to the stagnation and glaring failures we are witnessing at present.”
He expressed concern over Nigeria’s underperformance in key areas of development, questioning whether the nation has truly improved the lives of its people.
Obi pointed to critical issues plaguing the country, including widespread poverty, a broken education system, and an overwhelming debt burden.
He also highlighted the alarming statistic of over 18 million out-of-school children as evidence of Nigeria’s failure to secure its future.
“Have we built a productive economy, or have we created a nation with the worst debt profile in its history?” he asked.
Beyond the economy, Obi underscored the nation’s poor rankings in global security, corruption and rule of law.
He stated, “We are ranked as one of the most insecure nations globally and among the most corrupt. Our disregard for the rule of law is evident, and this has hindered our progress as a nation.”
Obi also drew comparisons with other countries that gained independence around the same time as Nigeria, noting that while these nations have made significant strides, Nigeria appears to be in decline.
“When we compare ourselves to countries that gained independence before or after us, Nigeria stands out as a nation in decline, urgently in need of rescue from further decay,” he said.
Despite the bleak assessment, Obi offered a hopeful vision for the future, calling on Nigerians to recommit to building a nation free from tribal disunity, religious disharmony, and corruption.
He emphasised the need for a “New and Productive Nigeria” that prioritises the well-being of its citizens.
“We must make a solemn commitment to build a nation that is truly independent of the state capture that has dragged it into failure and kept its people in suffering,” Obi urged.
