Obi Marks Independence Day with Pledge to Tackle Nigeria's Challenges
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called on Nigerians to stay hopeful and determined as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary. In an address delivered in Abuja on Thursday, Obi assured citizens that a new Nigeria is achievable and urged them not to give in to despair.
He pledged that if elected president, his administration would ensure governance is measurable, accountable, and focused on the well-being and productivity of the people. According to him, within the first year, Nigerians would begin to witness the concrete results of purposeful and effective leadership.
"My message today is not one of despair. It is a message of hope, determination and responsibility. I dare to proclaim with full assurance that a new Nigeria is possible," Obi said. "As President of Nigeria, I will make governance measurable, accountable and centred on the welfare and productivity of our people. Within the first year, Nigerians will begin to see the tangible impact of purposeful and effective leadership."
Obi said his government would tackle insecurity head-on, allowing farmers to return to their fields, children to go back to school, businesses to operate without hindrance, and families to live without fear. He stressed that no Nigerian should be forced to live in an IDP camp due to the government's failure to provide security. He promised that displaced persons would be able to return safely and with dignity to their communities.
"We will build a Nigeria that is secure, united and productive; a Nigeria governed with competence, accountability and justice; a Nigeria where no child is denied education," he stated.
He also outlined plans to shift Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy to a productive one that generates jobs, expands opportunities, supports agriculture and manufacturing, invests in human capital, and enables young people to build meaningful lives.
"We will prioritise education, healthcare, security and productive enterprise because these are not luxuries. They are the foundations of a functioning nation," Obi said.
Promising to lead by example, Obi declared that he would not spend his holidays abroad during his four-year tenure if elected. Instead, he said he would spend them in states like Zamfara, Borno, Kwara, Ebonyi, Edo, and Ekiti, among others. "I want to continue to see Nigeria. I want to know Nigeria. I want to spend time with Nigerians, listen to them, understand their challenges and celebrate their resilience," he added.
He reiterated his vision for a Nigeria where no child is denied education due to poverty or insecurity, no mother dies from lack of basic healthcare, farmers can safely return to their farms, young people can find work and prosper, and public resources are used strictly for the public good.
"We will build a Nigeria that our children and future generations will be proud to inherit, a Nigeria where unity, peace, justice and prosperity are not merely words in speeches, but lived realities for our people," he said.
Reflecting on the anniversary, Obi urged Nigerians to look back with gratitude, examine the present honestly, and face the future with courage. He emphasised that the desired Nigeria would not be built by prayers or promises alone, but by leadership that treats public office as a sacred trust, citizens who demand accountability, and a collective refusal to accept failure as destiny.
Obi also criticised the APC-led government, saying that despite its promises in 2023, the country continues to face worsening challenges in nearly every sector. He cited statistics: over 140 million Nigerians living in poverty and severe hardship; more than 18 million out-of-school children; and recent loss of 37 young Nigerians to insecurity. He noted that over 40 million Nigerians could face extreme hunger by the end of 2026, and that youth unemployment and underemployment exceed 35 million. He also highlighted that 14% of young people are involved in drug abuse, compared to a global average of 6%, and that life expectancy stands at 54 years against a global average of 74.
He said these realities demand sober reflection. Quoting Socrates, he said, "the unexamined life is not worth living," and added that an unexamined nation cannot chart its future. He rejected the idea that Nigeria is cursed, insisting that the country's problem is not a lack of resources but the failure to convert them into human development, productivity, security, and shared prosperity.
Obi recounted a recent two-day visit to Sokoto State with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, where they consulted with residents on insecurity, out-of-school children, poverty, youth unemployment, and drug abuse. They visited the Internally Displaced Persons camp at Ramin Kura in Sokoto metropolis, where he said thousands of women and children live in deplorable conditions, deprived of basic necessities and education, with limited healthcare access.
"These are Nigerians who should be living in their communities, going to school, farming their land, conducting their businesses and contributing to the economy. Instead, they live as displaced persons in their own country," Obi said. He described the situation at Ramin Kura as a reflection of suffering across many parts of Nigeria.
He accused the current government of acting as if these problems belong to another country, and said political leaders have failed the nation and its children.
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