Independence: Don’t Despair, We’ll Address Nigeria’s Woes, Obi Tells Nigerians

As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, Presidential Candidate of
the African Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi urged her citizens not to despair but remain hopeful, determined and responsible, assuring that a new Nigeria possible.

Obi in an independence address delivered in Abuja on Thursday said as President of Nigeria, he will make governance measurable, accountable and centred on the welfare and productivity of people.

The NDC presidential candidate said within the first year, Nigerians will begin to see
the tangible impact of purposeful and effective leadership.

“My message today is not one of despair. It is a message of
hope, determination and responsibility. I dare to proclaim
with full assurance that a new Nigeria is possible.

“As President of Nigeria, I will make governance measurable,
accountable and centred on the welfare and productivity of
our people. Within the first year, Nigerians will begin to see
the tangible impact of purposeful and effective leadership,” he said.

Obi said his administration will confront insecurity decisively so that farmers can return to their farms, while children go back to school, businesses operate freely, and families can live without fear.

“No Nigerian should be forced to live in an IDP camp because his or her government has failed to provide security. My administration will work to ensure that Nigerians displaced by insecurity can begin to return safely and with dignity to their communities.

“We will build a Nigeria that is secure, united and productive;
a Nigeria governed with competence, accountability and
justice; a Nigeria where no child is denied education,” he said.

Obi also said Nigeria under him
will move from a consumption-driven economy to a productive economy, one that creates jobs, expands
opportunities, supports agriculture and manufacturing,
invests in human capital and makes Nigeria a country
where young people can build meaningful lives.

“We will prioritise education, healthcare, security and
productive enterprise because these are not luxuries. They
are the foundations of a functioning nation.

“As I have always done, I will lead by example. In four years
as President of this great nation, I will not spend my
holidays outside Nigeria. My holidays will be spent in
Zamfara State; Borno State; Kwara State; Ebonyi State; Edo
State; Ekiti State and other Nigerian States.

“I want to continue to see Nigeria. I want to know Nigeria. I want to spend time with Nigerians, listen to them,
understand their challenges and celebrate their resilience.

“We will build a Nigeria that is secure, united and productive;
a Nigeria governed with competence, accountability and
justice; a Nigeria where no child is denied education because of untold poverty or unbearable insecurity; where
no mother dies because she cannot access basic
healthcare; where farmers can return safely to their farms;
where young people can find opportunities to work and
prosper; and where public resources are deployed strictly
for the public good.

“We will build a Nigeria that our children and future
generations will be proud to inherit, a Nigeria where unity,
peace, justice and prosperity are not merely words in
speeches, but lived realities for our people.

“On this sixty-sixth Independence Anniversary, let us look back with gratitude, look around us with honesty, and look forward with courage.
The Nigeria we desire will not be built by prayers alone, nor
by promises alone.

“It will be built by leadership that understands that public office is a sacred trust, by citizens who demand accountability, and by all of us who refuse to accept failure as our destiny. It is time to build the new and productive Nigeria that is possible,” he added.

Obi said despite the
enormous promises made by the APC-led government in
2023, the nation continues to face deepening challenges
across virtually every critical sector of national life.

“Today we stand before the world as a nation: With an extraordinarily large population living in poverty and severe hardship; over 140 million. With one of the largest populations of out-of-school children in the world; over 18 million.

“Where insecurity, terrorism, banditry and kidnapping
continue to threaten lives and livelihoods, just recently 37
young Nigerians in their productive age lost their lives
Where millions of Nigerians struggle with hunger and food
insecurity; over 40M Nigerians will be in extreme hunger by
the end of 2026.

“With unacceptably high rates of infant and maternal
mortality; Nigeria today is the worst place to be born. Where youth unemployment and underemployment remain
alarmingly high; over 35M Where drug abuse and substance misuse increasingly
threaten our young population; today 14% as against global
average of 6%

“Where life expectancy remains among the lowest globally,
today 54 years against global average of 74 years and the list goes on,” he said.

The former Anambra governor said this reality demands serious, sober and honest reflection.

“Socrates taught that ‘the unexamined life is not worth
living.’ By the same principle, an unexamined nation cannot
successfully chart its future. We must therefore ask ourselves: Are we cursed, or have we become the curse through the choices we have made and the failures we have tolerated?

“The answer cannot be that Nigeria is cursed. We are a nation immensely endowed and blessed. Our greatest problem is not a lack of resources; it is the failure to convert our
enormous resources into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity.

“Only yesterday, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and I returned
from a two-day visit to Sokoto State. We held extensive
consultations with people from different parts of the state
on insecurity, out-of-school children, poverty, youth
unemployment, drug abuse and other challenges
confronting our people.

“In concluding the visit, we went to the Internally Displaced
Persons camp at Ramin Kura within Sokoto metropolis.
What we saw was deeply troubling. Thousands of women
and children live in deplorable conditions, displaced from
their homes and deprived of the basic necessities of life.
Many of the children have no access to education. Mothers
and children have limited access to basic healthcare.

“These are Nigerians who should be living in their communities, going to school, farming their land, conducting their businesses and contributing to the economy. Instead, they live as displaced persons in their own country.

“What we saw in Ramin Kura is not an isolated story. It is a
reflection of the suffering experienced, in different forms,
across many parts of Nigeria.

“And yet, while ordinary Nigerians struggle with these realities, this present government often behaves as though these problems belong to another country. The political leaders, have failed our country and, most importantly, we
have failed our children,” Obi added.