Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to embrace unity, civic responsibility and accountable leadership as part of efforts to rebuild the nation and secure a brighter future for generations to come.
In a Father’s Day message released on Sunday, the former Anambra State governor reflected on Nigeria’s past and present, expressing concern over what he described as the country’s worsening insecurity, weakened national unity, economic challenges and declining global influence.
Obi said his reflections after attending church service led him to ponder the state of the nation, posing what he described as a difficult question: whether Nigerians are victims of circumstances or contributors to the country’s challenges.
He recalled growing up in a Nigeria where people interacted freely across ethnic, religious and regional divides, and where trust, competence and merit formed the foundation of social and business relationships.
According to him, the country once enjoyed a higher level of security, enabling citizens to travel across different regions without fear. He noted that roads connected communities and facilitated economic and social interactions nationwide.
Obi also reminisced about a period when the naira was stronger, the Nigerian passport commanded greater international respect, and the country’s security agencies earned global recognition through peacekeeping and other international assignments.
The former governor further stated that public institutions, including electoral bodies, universities, healthcare facilities and infrastructure systems, inspired greater confidence among citizens than they do today.
Expressing concern over the current situation, Obi said many Nigerians now live in fear due to rising insecurity, while national cohesion has continued to weaken.
He also lamented what he described as Nigeria’s diminishing influence in global affairs, citing the country’s absence from recent high-level international engagements where other African nations were represented.
Obi urged Nigerians to play active roles in strengthening democracy by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), participating in elections and protecting the sanctity of the electoral process.
He stressed that citizens, especially parents, have a responsibility to ensure that future generations inherit a nation built on security, opportunity, justice and national pride rather than the challenges confronting the country today.
The opposition leader maintained that rebuilding Nigeria requires collective commitment from both leaders and citizens, expressing optimism that unity, responsibility and determination can help create a better nation.
