As Nigeria celebrates its 64th Independence Day, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has urged leaders and citizens to reflect on the country’s current state. Obi emphasized that Nigeria is in dire need of rescue from further decay.
In a statement, Obi acknowledged the significance of independence but stressed that this year’s celebration should be a time for sober reflection, especially for the nation’s leadership. He noted that Nigeria’s abundant resources have not translated into meaningful progress.
“Nigeria stands out as a nation in decline, urgently in need of rescue from further decay,” Obi said. He cited critical issues such as widespread poverty, a broken education system, and an overwhelming debt burden.
Obi expressed concern over Nigeria’s underperformance in key areas of development, questioning whether the nation has truly improved the lives of its people. He also highlighted the alarming statistic of over 18 million out-of-school children.
Nigeria’s rankings in global security, corruption, and rule of law are also causes for concern. Obi compared Nigeria’s progress to other countries that gained independence around the same time, noting that while these nations have made significant strides, Nigeria appears to be in decline.
Despite this bleak assessment, Obi offered a hopeful vision for the future. He called on Nigerians to recommit to building a nation free from tribal disunity, religious disharmony, and corruption.
“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.