Former Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for an end to bad leadership, corruption and lack of accountability, saying Nigeria must be rebuilt to provide equal opportunities for all citizens.
Obi made the call in a statement following meetings with British government officials and members of the Nigerian diaspora in London on Wednesday.
He said the engagements focused on the collective responsibility of Nigerians to address the country’s challenges and build a nation where citizens have access to basic necessities, including quality healthcare, education and decent employment.
According to Obi, bad leadership, corruption and a lack of accountability have continued to undermine national development and deny millions of Nigerians access to essential services.
He stressed that Nigerians deserved a country where every life mattered, hard work was rewarded and citizens could succeed regardless of their background or connections.
“Nigerians deserve a country where every life matters, where hard work is rewarded, and where every citizen has a fair opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or connections,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor said national rebuilding must focus on creating opportunities for ordinary citizens rather than concentrating privileges in the hands of a few.
“We must build a Nigeria where the child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody,” Obi said.
He added that the country should be structured to serve the interests of all citizens, irrespective of their social status or connections.
“A country that works for everyone, not just a privileged few,” he said.
Obi disclosed that he arrived in London from Basel, Switzerland, at 7 a.m. on Wednesday and spent the day attending several engagements, including meetings with stakeholders in the United Kingdom.
He said he rounded off the day’s activities with a meeting organised by the Chief of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) and the Director of Diaspora Affairs of the NDC, which brought together other stakeholders in London.
Obi said the discussions with British government officials and Nigerians in the diaspora centred on the need to address leadership failures, corruption and the lack of accountability affecting the country’s development.
He reiterated his belief that Nigeria could achieve meaningful transformation through responsible leadership, accountability and equal opportunities for its citizens.