Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for good governance, accountability and effective leadership as necessary conditions for achieving lasting peace in Nigeria.
Obi made the call in a statement to mark the International Day of Peace, stressing that peace goes beyond the absence of violence.
According to him, Nigerians cannot fully experience peace when farmers are unable to safely access their fields, children face the threat of abduction, families struggle to afford adequate food and young people lack opportunities to build a future in the country.
“Peace means more than the absence of violence,” Obi said.
He noted that governments must protect lives, ensure justice, combat corruption, invest in education and healthcare, expand productive opportunities and manage national resources responsibly.
Obi said Nigeria must address the underlying conditions that fuel desperation and instability rather than focusing only on the visible effects of insecurity.
“We cannot continue addressing only the visible effects of insecurity while neglecting the circumstances that generate desperation and instability,” he said.
He also warned that the misuse of public resources undermines efforts to build a peaceful society, stressing that every naira misused represents a lost opportunity to improve citizens’ lives.
“Every naira misused represents a lost opportunity to strengthen peace. Every citizen left without support reflects a crisis overlooked. Every injustice committed erodes the foundations of peace,” he said.
Obi said Nigeria has the resources required to become a secure, peaceful and prosperous nation, but achieving this would require leadership, accountability and the political will to put citizens at the centre of governance.
He urged Nigerians and leaders to commit to building a country where justice is upheld, lives are protected, opportunities are expanded and citizens can live with dignity and hope.
“Responsible governance is the foundation of peace,” Obi said, adding that “A new Nigeria is possible.”