Mr. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections has said that Nigeria can be redeemed through truth, sacrifice and leadership by example.
The former Anambra State Governor stated this on Thursday at the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Abuja, in a paper titled “Reclaiming Our Nation’s Dignity”.
Obi noted that Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads today, more than ever before, stressing that it is vital to reflect on the path to take to restore both the country’s dignity and the people’s hope.
He appreciated the organisers for inviting him, stressing that the platform allows participants to discuss not only the challenges that confront Nigerians—the moral, social, and economic crises that have brought citizens to this juncture—but also the vision, responsibility, and collective action required to reclaim the promise of a better Nigeria for all citizens.
He said, “I still believe that redemption is possible. I believe that through truth, sacrifice, and leadership by example, Nigeria can rise again. That’s why your role as editors is vital. You’re not just recorders of history; you’re the conscience of the nation. You shape narratives, correct distortions, and remind leaders of the truths they may prefer to forget.
“The urgency of our moment cannot be overstated. We must turn things around by holding leaders accountable, not for promises made, but for promises kept.
“Let’s rebuild our moral foundation. Let’s insist on elections free from bribery and intimidation. Let’s demand that public funds be used to build schools and hospitals, not to buy votes or sustain luxury. If we do these things, we’ll no longer be called a disgraced country but a nation of dignity—a people who may stumble, yet always strive to stand upright. All of us, collectively, must work hard to rewrite this ugly narrative and restore Nigeria’s honour among the nations of the world.”
Reacting to the comment made by the U.S president, Donald Trump, he said, “Our country, Nigeria, stands today at a most critical crossroads. Just two weeks ago, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, made a comment on social media referring to Nigeria as a “now disgraced country.
“He singled out the killings in our land without compunction, but in truth, he was merely echoing what many Nigerians of good conscience have been saying for years—often at the risk of being accused of de-marketing their own country. The reality is stark: Nigeria is facing existential challenges that demand our sober reflection.
“For many, the immediate reaction was to debate whether there’s genocide in Nigeria or not. But that’s not the central question. The questions we should ask ourselves are far deeper: are there killings, whether genocide or not? Why the word disgraced? Is it only the killings, or the culture of impunity that allows them to persist? Is it the insecurity that haunts our citizens, or the failure of leadership to protect them?
“These are the questions that should trouble every Nigerian. They force us to look inward and confront the uncomfortable truth—that our disgrace is not defined by what others say, but by what we allow to persist in our society. If the answers are painful—and they are—then rather than take offence, we should search for the reasons and begin to confront them with honesty and courage. That, for me, is the true path to national restoration.”
Speaking further, he said, “We’re disgraced not merely because of what others say, but because of what we’ve allowed ourselves to become. Today, over 130 million Nigerians live in poverty; millions more struggle daily to afford basic necessities, while over 20 million children are denied the right to education—the chance to learn, grow, and contribute to their nation’s future.
“We’ve surpassed India and China in infant mortality, even though our population is less than a tenth of theirs. We’re now counted among the most insecure, hungriest nations, and among the worst places to be born. With the highest youth unemployment rate and widespread corruption, foreign leaders have justly described us as “fantastically corrupt.”
“Yet, even in the face of such grim realities, we mustn’t lose faith in our capacity to rebuild.”
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