Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians at home and abroad to become active advocates for national transformation, insisting that rebuilding the country requires a collective commitment to integrity, productivity, and long-term development.
Obi made the call on Friday in Madrid, Spain, where he attended the Reimagining Nigeria Symposium 2025 shortly after arriving in the country for a series of partnership-focused engagements.
The symposium, themed: “A Journey to Development,” brought together stakeholders in governance, economics, and the diaspora community.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Sunday, Obi said he was in Madrid to strengthen collaborations and explore opportunities that could benefit future generations.
Addressing participants at the symposium, he spotlighted agriculture as one of Nigeria’s most underutilised assets.
“With vast arable land and a vibrant young population, Nigeria has all it takes to become a global leader in food production and has no business being one of the hungriest countries and the poorest nation in the world,” Obi said.
He lamented a prevailing national orientation that, in his view, rewards questionable wealth and promotes criminality, warning that no country can progress on “foundations that undermine integrity.”
“We must move away from any system that glorifies shortcuts or celebrates wealth without enterprise,” he said. “A nation cannot grow on such foundations. Transparency, hard work, and honest enterprise must be the bedrock of our economic progress.”
Obi also expressed optimism over renewed civic engagement among Nigerians, noting that advocacy for accountability and good governance must no longer be left to political leaders alone.
“The task of rebuilding our nation cannot be left to leaders alone. True change begins when citizens use their voices, platforms, and actions to demand and defend what is right,” he added.
According to him, Nigeria’s path to development transcends policies and is fundamentally rooted in values, discipline, and collective resolve.
“The journey to rebuilding Nigeria is not just about policies; it is about values,” he said. “A more productive, united, and globally com
