After Emerging LP’s Presidential Candidate, Obi Says Emancipation of Nigeria Has Begun

•Declares Nigeria may be hijacked by forces of retrogression

Adedayo Akinwale

A former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday, emerged  the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) and immediately declared that the emancipation of Nigeria has begun with his emergence.

Obi, who spoke while delivering his acceptance speech after he emerged as the party’s candidate at the primaries held in Delta State, said Nigerians remained hopeful for a national rebirth, which implied returning Nigeria to Nigerians – farmers, teachers and students, lecturers, artisans, workers, pensioners and over a hundred million poor Nigerians, who were not sure where their next meal would come from.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate in the 2019 elections, said, the journey was going to be a collective one and  would certainly require the cooperation of critical stakeholders in the country, especially, the youth, whose future has been thoroughly degraded.

“Painfully, the current dysfunctional system rewards unearned income and conspicuous consumption allows university lecturers to remain on strike for months; keep our youths at home and owes pensioners, who gave their patriotic sweat and their youthful energy to serve this country.

“The despicable contrast is that those responsible for the mess – those elected to take care of them – have abandoned the national currency and are living in opulence and like kings, spend dollars to buy delegates as well as houses all over the world. Meanwhile, they owe most workers, lecturers and retirees.

“Yes, our country stands hijacked by forces of retrogression. We are almost zero in all indices of development. As a result, our future, especially, those of the youth and generations unborn, is in ruins. We have become a laughing stock among other nations, including African countries, where we were once revered,” he said.

Obi stressed that his governance mission would be twin-tracked, and would aim at securing Nigeria in every ramification: national security, human security, food security and tackling insecurity created by unemployment.

He added: “As a party that represents the workers and masses of this great nation, we are people organised and working for our economic rebirth. As I am nominated today, I humbly proclaim that the journey towards the emancipation of the country has begun.”

Against this background, Obi called for sustained support towards returning Nigeria to Nigerians from forces of bad leadership and retrogression, saying such a noble task brings no conscientious objectors.

According to him, “I hardly use war metaphors for political analysis due to my belief that politics is not adversarial and not war. However, permit me a little indulgence here, to relate what we are embarking on to the ancient battle of Thermopylae, where the Greek forces, conscious of fighting for the life of Greece held on against great odds in the defence of their country.

“In the battle to retake Nigeria, the odds are great and seemingly insurmountable, but with our commitment, patriotism and understanding that we are doing, what we are supposed to do for our country, lest she shall die, we shall move on discontent with what is and focused on enthroning what ought to be. In doing this, our battle cry shall remain: get your PVC and become part of this great liberation!.”

He assured the people that his government would  unite the nation by pulling people out of poverty, and creating a new sense of nationalism and patriotism.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria shall rise again and her people would be proud to claim ownership of her patrimony.

Meanwhile, an industrialist and President of Osisisoma Foundation, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, has described the emergence of  Obi as presidential candidate of LP as a divine architecture for a better Nigeria, saying the time has come for the people to rise as true citizens to take back their country.

Obidigbo, in a statement yesterday, said no matter how hard forces of retrogression tried, nothing could stop an idea whose time has come, stressing that Obi was  coming to mobilise Nigerians for social and ethical change.

He said, “I do not think Peter Obi dreamed about the massive momentum his Presidential aspiration is building among Nigerians. I am sure he did not even plan to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the way he did.

“One thing is clear, there is always the God factor in the affairs of every nation and people. Nigerians have had it to their throat, whether it is money politics, corruption or irresponsible politicians. The time has come for the people to rise as true citizens to take back their country.

“The time has come for Nigerians to take serious thoughts about the kind of country they want,” maintaining that Peter Obi’s message of doing the right thing the right way resonates with the mood of young and well meaning citizens.