The Labour Party presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi has said a new Nigeria is realisable, in spite of the current state of the country.
He however said the new Nigeria is a task that all stakeholders must be committed to.
Addressing Journalists yesterday in Lagos to mark the 53rd anniversary of the end of the Nigerian Civil War, Obi, in a speech entitled, ‘Nation Building and the Ordered Society are imperative’, said Nigerians must accept the fact that the war has ended.
He said, “Today marks fifty-three years since the civil war formally ended. Let us accept that the war has truly ended. To try to continue to fight the civil war’ today, after fifty-three years, would be a great disservice to Nigeria and Nigerians, particularly our heroes who diligently laboured to secure and unite us. Let our rallying anthem remain: “Though tribes and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.”
Obi pledged to commit the rest of his life to ensure the civil war and the circumstances that led to it does not re-occur.
He added that he will ensure an all-inclusive and progressive society where no individual or group will be estranged, marginalised, or excluded.
“I remain resolute that a New Nigeria that we are all proud of and patriotically committed to is possible and that it is a task that must be achieved! “
The LP standard bearer said the task of securing and uniting Nigeria should be the only option, adding that Nigerians can agree that the leaders and people of different sections of Nigeria have done well, particularly in the years immediately after the war.
He said that the forthcoming general election is crucial as many regard it as an existential decision the people have to make as a nation and “particularly for our children and youths, given the sad state of our dear nation, bedeviled by alarming insecurity, unemployment, poverty, inflation, debt, hunger, disunity, hopelessness and many other indices of a failing state.”
The former Anambra State governor who regretted the loss of lives to what he called a needless war, recalled the role of then Col Olusegun Obasanjo in leading the then Biafran delegation to General Gowon to declare the war over.
Obi noted that Nigeria healed itself less than 10 years after the war, when, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, a former Biafran, emerged as vice president “to a most patriotic, humble servant-leader, Alhaji Shehu Shagari,” adding that it was the most strong and veritable expression of unity and togetherness.
“This democratic leap with its unifying symbolism was glorious for Nigeria, and I deeply cherish such a path of brotherhood and oneness established by Shagari/Ekwueme and truly believe that it is this path of inclusiveness and togetherness as one Nigeria we should follow today.”
He said that it will be a disservice to this generation and generation yet unborn to still harbour a different agenda different from the realization of a wholesome and unifying people-oriented development vision.
“From what I know of the South-East, the Igbo Nation, led by Ohaneze, has at every opportunity been unequivocal about its commitment to the unity, oneness, integrity, and progress of Nigeria, based on equity, justice, and an inclusive society. And I, Peter Obi, a proud Nigerian of Igbo extraction, I am most truthfully and wholly committed to that stand of One United, Secure and Progressive Nigeria”
That notwithstanding, Obi said that there are youths all over Nigeria who are frustrated because of injustice, poverty, lack of opportunities, unemployment, and apparent exclusion. Such youths could use anything issue or tool to express their frustration and anger like IPOB, MASSOB, Niger Delta militants and blame it on the failures in creating an inclusive and progressive Nigeria.
“A working Nigeria with equity, justice and fairness will also definitely and effectively checkmate such extreme groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP”
He reiterated his earlier position on tackling agitations in the country, “the best strategy for dealing with these situations manifesting in the guise of unclear nationalism, bigoted patriotism and religious bigotry is a carrot and stick approach.
“Nation building and an ordered society are now imperative. We must wean those that can be weaned through the creation of a society where equity and justice will prevail, a society where the basic freedoms and necessities of life, such as health, jobs, skills, and empowerment are provided.”
The frontline Presidential candidate believes that the leaders of various agitation groups will stop their agitations when they see a patriotic leadership imbued with fairness, equity, justice, and a determination for a very inclusive and progressive society. Every rational human being can change when he sees a good reason to do so but noted that such incentives require the right approach, effort, and time.
Obi then described as unfair and wrong approach the use of the misconduct or position of one person or few persons in an ethnic group to stigmatize the entire group.
He said, it’s unacceptable the level of poverty in our land today, 133 million Nigerians live in multi-dimensional poverty, 20 million children are out of school, we have near 40% unemployment, with about 60%unemployed youths who do not know where the next meal will come from; our young people in their productive years are doing nothing, our primary healthcare system has collapsed, this should worry us and we need to come together to commence reversing them irrespective of our ethnic or religious backgrounds.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
