My Fellow Compatriots,
As we thank God and enter a brand new yr, 2024, I ship my heartfelt and warmest greetings to all Nigerians: from my household and I, to you and yours. Could the Almighty God bless you all richly and grant your good coronary heart needs within the new yr and past.
The occasions of previous yr are actually a part of our nationwide historical past. As we trudge on, we stay aware of the State of our Nation, and that our greatest hopes and aspirations stay largely unfulfilled. Peace and safety proceed to elude us with the rising stage of bloodletting deeply troubling and typically past a battle state of affairs. A state of affairs the place lots of of Nigerians are violently killed in December alone is deeply unhappy and unacceptable. Whereas we pray for the repose of the souls departed, we demand that the Federal Authorities should do no matter is required to carry the perpetrators to justice and completely cease a re-occurrence in any a part of Nigeria. Along with the lamentable safety state of affairs, our economic system stays complicated and miserable with unemployment, inflation, poverty, inequality and different key socio-economic variables all detrimental and worsening. As Nigeria is the one nation we have now, deeply endowed however missing in good management, we’ll proceed to hunt a brand new Nigeria that we all know is POssible.
Nigerians are actually very conscious and satisfied that good governance, inclusive improvement, and accountable management anticipated in a practical democracy, proceed to elude us however we should be constant and resolute in our demand for rule of regulation, regulatory high quality and authorities effectiveness for transformative options to litany of our social issues.
If there’s one basic risk to our democracy, it’s the undermining and weakening of our nationwide establishments and the seize of state affairs and assets by few people and personal pursuits. This should cease for Nigeria to maneuver ahead and performance as an inclusive and sustainable society and nation. In a democratic and secular nation like ours, there should be full respect for the separation of powers between the three impartial arms of presidency, in addition to between the federating items.
As an example, the Nationwide Meeting ought to dedicate time and commit themselves to diligent efficiency of their features just like the 2024 price range that requires their prudent examination and subsequent patriotic oriented approval or rejection.
We should work assiduously to keep away from drifting to a one-party state, or a state of affairs,the place the Federal authorities intervenes unduly within the inner affairs of the states, notably in circumstances the place nationwide safety isn’t threatened. We in Labour Occasion have undertaken within the nationwide curiosity and in our timeless dedication to a New Nigeria that’s Doable, to stay firmly in opposition and as such, should stay centered going ahead. Our collective position in nation constructing stays basic and compulsory.
Once more, let me use this chance to thank all Nigerians who supported our marketing campaign throughout the 2023 elections and voted for us, as a result of they believed within the quest for a New Nigeria. The result of the 2023 presidential elections was contested and stays so, on report. However the Courts of regulation have spoken; so be it.
I want to thank members of the Labour Occasion, the OBIdient Household, buddies and well-wishers of Nigeria for his or her loyalty, resilience, tenacity and dedication to true democracy. We are going to proceed ongoing discussions and efforts for the Labour Occasion to regulate to our new position as Nigeria’s primary opposition occasion. We are going to proceed to constructively have interaction all Nigerians and our buddies, who’ve now realized the huge implications of the highway not taken; and the folly of nationwide curiosity selections predicated on sentiments and primordial pursuits.
Nigeria is our God given nation. The enterprise of Nigeria is way too necessary to be left to these concerned in transactional politics. I’m concerned within the battle for a New Nigeria that’s Doable and works for all and can stay passionately dedicated to the campaign.
I subsequently implore you all who try for a New Nigeria to stay totally engaged, dedicated and resilient as it’s and might be Doable. God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Blissful and Affluent 2024.
- Peter Obi is Labour Occasion (LP) standard-bearer for 2023 presidential election