Victor Ezeja
As Nigeria marks her 62nd independence anniversary, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the upcoming 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi stated that the citizens instead of celebrating dividends of nationhood, are made to grapple with the challenges of bad governance which manifests in the forms of corruption, poor economy and insecurity.
Obi asserted that due to the ugly situation in the system, many of the citizens are already tired and frustrated with the leadership failure that has continued to burden the country for many years.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe LP presidential candidate who bared his mind on the state of the nation in his Independence Day Message to Nigerians stated that the coming 2023 election presents a ray of hope and an opportunity to the people for a New Nigeria, if things are done correctly in terms of having a free, fair and credible polls.
He lamented that at 62, Nigeria instead of heralding progress and development, has nothing to celebrate; rather, it continues to struggle under the weight of corruption, bad governance, insecurity, and worsening economy, which persistently plunge the people into poverty and hardship.
His words, “After 62 years of independence, we are still experiencing constant collapse of our national grid, as many as 7 times in a single year; our universities have been shut for eight months; our inflation rate is at an all time high, as more than half of the population are battling extreme poverty; insecurity and violence are occurring at an alarming rate; oil theft is carried on with impunity and in all fronts – the nation bleeds,” Obi lamented.
He observed that any further slip into retrogression will make the nation uninhabitable for the people.
He noted that despite the challenges, the people cannot lose hope up as the problems ate not insurmountable, adding “We can easily overcome them when there is a purposeful and transformative leadership in place; one that will not make excuses and will not be indifferent to the rule of law, equity and justice.”
While remarking that many Nigerians were looking forward to the 2023 election because it presents them an opportunity to put an end to the leadership failures of the past and usher in a new and productive Nigeria, Obi said “The time has come for Nigerians to rescue their country from the clutches of failure, rascality and corruption that have held it down for long. That is the true independence Nigeria needs. We need independence from economic brigandage, tribal and religious disunity, poverty and unproductivity, poor quality education etc.
“The coming election in 2023 should be strictly based on competence, character and integrity for us to make progress in the country,” he said.
Obi restated his readiness to move the nation forward, if elected, saying: “I stand by my resolve to move the nation forward, from consumption to production, from sharing formula to production formula. With this, we can build the New Nigeria of our dreams. Fellow Nigerians, let us take back our nation and build a better society for ourselves and our children.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
