In the midst of Nigeria’s ongoing economic turmoil, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, has reached out to the nation’s youth.
He commended their resilience and bravery, particularly during the electoral process.
Obi, the former governor of Anambra, expressed regret that many of his campaign concerns have now become reality. He made these remarks at a gathering titled “Redefining Our Options and Consolidating our Legacies,” held by Obidient support groups in Abuja on February 25th.
Despite the country’s grim circumstances, Obi encouraged Nigerians to remain hopeful, asserting that a revitalized Nigeria is still achievable.
In part of his statement, Obi said, “The nation has listened. The youth have taken up the challenge of altering their fate and the course of our country. They are eager to reclaim their country from those who view national leadership as a criminal enterprise.”
He also acknowledged the patriotism and freedom of choice of those who may not have backed or voted for them. “I commend your bravery and determination. Together, we boldly declared that a new, wealthier, more united Nigeria is not only feasible but also accessible to all Nigerians.
“You faced adversity, you resisted the pessimism of the naysayers, you made remarkable sacrifices and held fast to the unyielding belief that this land is our home and its future is ours to mold for our mutual benefit and the benefit of future generations.
Reflecting on the election and the current state of the country, we were right in advocating for a shift from old politics to a progressive Nigeria.
In the year since that election, many of the fears we voiced for our nation if we continued with old politics have come back to haunt us in terrifying ways.
We may have lost an election, but we have achieved a moral victory of monumental proportions. All the worst-case scenarios we warned about are unfolding.
Our national economy is perhaps in the worst shape it’s ever been. The number of people classified as multi-dimensionally poor has skyrocketed to over 80% of our population.
Likewise, unemployment is surging, which is alarmingly dangerous for a predominantly youthful population.
The hunger protests have brought our people together across ethnic, linguistic, regional, religious, and geographical lines. This reaffirms our belief that Nigerians are united by their living conditions, not by artificial barriers erected by opportunistic politicians. We are now a single people united by hunger.
Despite our nation’s current challenges and setbacks, I am pleased to reassure our supporters and compatriots that our dark experiences have not diminished my determination and optimism for the New Nigeria that we all worked so hard to establish a year ago.”
