Adedokun Waliyu 
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Saturday called on Nigerians to collectively rescue the country from what he described as the clutches of failure, rascality and corruption that have denied the nation the progress its deserving.
Obi, in a series of tweets to mark Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary, said “the true independence the country needed was freedom from corruption, economic theft, poverty, tribal and religious disunity, a transition to a productive nation, and the liberation of the youth.”
“This is the time for Nigerians to rescue their country from the clutches of failure, rascality, and corruption that have held it down for long. That is the true independence Nigeria needs. We need independence from economic brigandage, tribal and religious disunity, poverty, and unproductivity. We need independence that will liberate Nigerian youths,”he said.
He stated that though Nigeria was not bereft of good ideas and the required human capital, the prevalent combination of institutional weaknesses and lack of political will continued to translate to strategies, modalities and invariably poor policy, projects, and governance performance outcomes.
The former Anambra State governor lamented that while many Nigerians were frustrated and tired of the many years of leadership failure, many others were held by bandits with millions living in internally displaced persons camps as their homes had become part of the ungoverned spaces.
He added, “Many Nigerian children go to bed hungry. Such people can hardly fathom the concept of independence and freedom, let alone a valid basis for celebration.”
“At 62, rather than celebrate our patriotism, nationhood, unity, strength and diversity, Nigerians continue to grapple with the challenges of bad governance, replete with insecurity, a worsening economy, corruption, and various forms of abuse of public offices and all manners of impunity.’’
The catalogue of our national malaise is legion, and ranges from the intermittent collapse of our national power grid, our universities remaining shut for eight months, soaring inflation rate, extreme poverty, insecurity, and visceral violence resulting in mindless bloodletting.
Our national wealth, both cash and oil, is reportedly stolen each day with unfettered impunity. Nigeria bleeds literally and figuratively,” he added.
Obi, however, said “Nigeria’s sorry state could be turned around with a purposeful and transformative leadership, one which he said would not make excuses and be indifferent to the rule of law, equity and justice.”
He added, “Nigeria holds out hope of unfettered development, growth, greatness, and indeed, dreams of infinite possibilities. But we must seize the moment. We must rescue and turn our country around. It is our challenge and our duty. We, therefore, cannot ignore the present deafening clarion call for change.”
“Today, Nigeria is on the cusp of her national redefinition and rebirth. We are also on the eve of seminal general elections, a critical juncture of hope mixed with understandable trepidation. Yet, I am convinced that our collective national fate and our faith in Almighty God will lead us to an electoral legitimacy in 2023 that will reaffirm that sovereignty in our republic belongs to the people; and that we can collectively usher in a new and productive Nigeria. Nigeria’s morning has come.”
