Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has described the 2027 general election as a battle for Nigeria’s survival, blaming massive corruption and persistent leadership failures for the country’s slow pace of development.
Obi said Nigeria had the potential to rank among the world’s most developed countries but had been held back by corruption and the failure of successive leaders to harness its enormous resources for national progress.
He spoke after an impromptu meeting with Nigerians living in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he interacted with members of the diaspora and listened to their concerns about the state of the nation.
In a statement reflecting on the engagement, Obi said he was encouraged by the passion and determination of Nigerians abroad to contribute to building a better country.
He maintained that the responsibility of rebuilding Nigeria rested on every citizen, insisting that the time had come for Nigerians to move beyond complaints and commit themselves to the difficult task of national renewal.
“The task of building a New Nigeria remains our collective responsibility, and there is no better time to roll up our sleeves and get to work than now,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor warned that the country was approaching a critical moment in its history and urged citizens not to shy away from the challenges confronting the nation.
“Our nation is standing on the brink of a precipice, and we must not shrink from the arduous task ahead of us,” he added.
Obi identified corruption and accumulated leadership failures as the principal obstacles to Nigeria’s development, arguing that the country’s abundant human and natural resources should have translated into greater prosperity and improved living conditions for its citizens.
He stressed that the quality of leadership remained decisive in determining the direction and fortunes of any nation.
“No nation, as I have always maintained, can rise above the character, competence, capacity and commitment of those entrusted with its leadership,” Obi said.
Against this backdrop, he urged Nigerians to approach the forthcoming general election with a sense of urgency, arguing that the contest should not be treated as another routine political exercise.
Rather, he said, the election represented a defining opportunity for citizens to determine the country’s future and chart a new course away from corruption, poor governance and underdevelopment.
Obi called for collective action to rescue the nation and establish a system capable of delivering prosperity, accountability and inclusive development.
Describing the aspiration for national renewal as achievable, he reiterated his conviction that a New Nigeria was possible, urging Nigerians at home and abroad to play their part in making it a reality.
