By Abba – Eku Onyeka, Abuja
As Nigeria marked its 64th Independence anniversary, Labour Party Presidential Candidate at the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to strive for a truly independent nation, free from state capture and suffering.
In a thought-provoking Independence Day message, Obi reflected on Nigeria’s six decades of independence, citing the need for sober reflection on the country’s retrogression and failure.
“This day should be a day of sober reflection for every Nigerian, especially for us, the leaders, whose actions and inactions have continued to contribute to the retrogression and very visible failure we are all witnessing,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State Governor highlighted Nigeria’s natural and human resources, saying: “God has lavishly endowed us with everything natural, human, and material to be a great nation.”
However, Obi lamented Nigeria’s poor performance in critical areas, including:
ver 18 million out-of-school children; worst debt profile in the nation’s history; poor rankings in safety and peacefulness; high corruption levels and; disregard for the rule of law
“Nigeria has continued its dangerous dance on the edge of a precipice,” Obi noted: “Comparing the country unfavorably to nations that gained independence around the same time.”
To reverse this trend, Obi advocated for a new, productive Nigeria that prioritizes: tribal unity, religious harmony and; people’s well-being
He urged leaders to examine their actions and commit to building a better future for Nigerians, he said: “On this day, we must make a sober commitment to build a nation truly independent from the present state capture that has held it down in failure and has kept the people suffering. That is the Independence we will celebrate as a nation, and it is possible.”
