John Alechenu

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to strive for a truly independent nation, free from state capture, and to put an end to the unprecedented hardship and suffering in the country.

Obi made this call in a series of tweets on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday.

He wrote, “On this day, we must make a sober commitment to build a nation truly independent from the present state capture that has held it down in failure and has kept the people suffering.”

The former Anambra State Governor added, “Anniversary celebrations, whether of an individual or a country, provide opportunities to reflect on memories, celebrate accomplishments, look to the future, and offer gratitude.”

“This is exactly what we are doing today as our dear nation marks its independence anniversary—64 years since Nigeria took charge of its destiny and began its journey towards development as an independent nation.”

“It is a day to appreciate God for lavishly endowing us with everything natural, human, and material to be a great nation.”

“However, for me, this day should be one of sober reflection for every Nigerian, especially for us, the leaders, whose actions and inactions have contributed to the regression and evident failure we are witnessing.”

“An unexamined life, they say, is not worth living. We must, therefore, examine our lives in light of our journey as a nation over the past six decades.”

“Have we lifted our people out of poverty, or have we plunged more into it? Have we made education accessible to every Nigerian child, or have we created an army of over 18 million out-of-school children roaming the streets? Have we built a productive economy, or have we saddled ourselves with the worst debt profile in our nation’s history?”

“By every development measure, from critical sectors to overall progress, we are performing poorly. We rank low on safety and peacefulness and are one of the most terrorized countries in the world.”

“We are also ranked among the most corrupt nations globally and are notorious for disobeying the rule of law. Our nation continues to dance dangerously on the edge of a precipice.”

“When compared with countries that gained independence around the same time as ours, both before and after us, Nigeria stands out as a failed nation that urgently needs to be rescued from further decay.”

“On this day, we must make a sober commitment to build a nation truly independent from the present state capture that has held it down in failure and has kept the people suffering.”

“We must build a nation free from tribal disunity and religious disharmony. We must build a new and productive Nigeria that cares for the well-being of the people. That is the independence we will celebrate as a nation, and it is possible.”