Nigeria is celebrating its 64th Independence Day today, October 1, and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has shared his thoughts on the occasion. He emphasized that today is not just a day of celebration but also a day of reflection, particularly for leaders, on the country’s stagnation and failures .
According to Obi, Nigeria is underperforming in various development areas, including security and peacefulness, making it one of the most insecure nations globally. This is a stark reality, considering the country’s abundant natural, human, and material resources. He stressed the need for Nigerians to commit to building a truly independent nation, free from state capture, which has led to widespread suffering .
His statement reads
‘’Anniversary celebrations, whether for an individual or a country, offer opportunities to reflect on memories, celebrate accomplishments, look toward the future, and express gratitude.
This is exactly what we are doing today as our dear nation marks its 64th independence anniversary.
It is now 64 years since Nigeria took charge of its destiny and embarked on the journey toward development as a sovereign nation.
Today is a day to appreciate God for abundantly blessing us with natural, human, and material resources to build a great nation.
However, for me, this should also be a day of sober reflection for every Nigerian, especially for us, the leaders, whose actions and inactions have contributed to the stagnation and glaring failures we are witnessing at present.
As the saying goes, an unexamined life is not worth living. We must, therefore, examine ourselves in the light of our nation’s journey over the past six decades.
Have we lifted our people out of poverty, or have we driven more into it? Have we made education accessible to every Nigerian child, or have we allowed an army of over 18 million out-of-school children to roam the streets? Have we built a productive economy, or have we created a nation with the worst debt profile in its history?
By every measure of development, from the critical areas to the smallest aspects, we are underperforming. We rank poorly in security and peacefulness, making us one of the most insecure nations globally.
We are also ranked among the most corrupt countries, and we are noted for our disregard for the rule of law.
Our nation continues its dangerous dance on the edge of a precipice.
When we compare ourselves to countries that gained independence around the same time—before or after us—Nigeria stands out as a nation in decline, urgently in need of rescue from further decay.
On this day, therefore, we must make a solemn commitment to build a nation that is truly independent from the state capture that has dragged it into failure and kept its people in suffering.
We must create a nation free from tribal disunity and religious disharmony.
We must build a New and Productive Nigeria that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens.
That is the independence we should celebrate as a nation whose greatness remains POssible. -PO”
