Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi, on Saturday, said Nigeria’s challenges are not insurmountable.
Obi, who spoke at the first national convention of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), expressed the belief that Nigeria can rise again.
“Nations have recovered from worse situations when courageous people chose sacrifice over silence, and patriotism over personal gain,” he said in a statement issued by spokesperson of Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Ibrahim Umar.
He expressed regret that many people who once benefited from democratic governance “have now become willing accessories to the destruction of democracy itself.
“Those who once fought for justice now openly celebrate electoral injustice. Those who once spoke against impunity now defend coercion, manipulation, intimidation, and outright political gangsterism, especially against opposition voices.”
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria is witnessing a systematic assault on democracy and the will of the people.
“Nigeria today stands at a dangerous crossroads. Our democracy is under severe threat.
“Our nation is drifting without direction, and our people are passing through immense suffering,” Obi stated.
He said Nigeria has continued to record failures in virtually every recognised indicator of good governance, namely accountability, political stability, rule of law, corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and the separation of powers.
“The institutions that should protect the people are weakening daily, while the burden on ordinary citizens grows heavier with each passing moment,” he noted.
According to him, 140 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty while tens of millions of young people remain unemployed or underemployed.
“Inflation continues to crush families. Businesses are shutting down. Farmers can no longer safely access their farms. Communities live in fear. In this month alone, hundreds of innocent souls were aimlessly lost,” he stated.
Former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, said zoning to the party’s presidential ticket to the South is necessary for national healing.
“This represents a true opportunity for real national healing,” Kwankwaso stated.
