Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has shared his thoughts as Nigeria celebrates her 64th Independence Day today October 1st.
In a statement released on social
media, Obi said today is a day to appreciate God for abundantly blessing
Nigeria with natural, human, and material resources to build a great nation and
that it is also a day of sober reflection for every Nigerian, especially for
leaders, whose actions and inactions have contributed to the stagnation and
glaring failures we are witnessing at present.
He went further to state that By
every measure of development, from the critical areas to the smallest aspects,
Nigeria is underperforming as she ranks poorly in security and peacefulness,
making her one of the most insecure nations globally. He pointed out that
Nigerians 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.
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''
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