By Matthew Denis 

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has urged Nigerians to reject political manipulation based on religion and ethnicity, and instead support competent leadership in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on the state of governance, Obi criticised the prevailing political structure, asserting that Nigeria remains trapped in underdevelopment due to a persistent failure of leadership.

“I have consistently maintained that leadership failure lies at the heart of Nigeria’s problems. Until we confront it head-on, the country cannot move in the right direction,” he said.

He described the cumulative impact of misgovernance as the greatest threat to national progress, calling for a decisive shift away from what he described as a retrogressive system. Obi called for the emergence of leaders with “competence, character, capacity, and compassion.”

He referenced a recent statement by the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, which raised concerns about the country’s leadership, echoing sentiments published in The Africa Report. 

“Our declining governance has drawn global attention. This is a clear confirmation of what many of us have long said. Once again, let me be clear: you cannot ask the people to keep fasting while you feast every day,” Obi stated.

Quoting Chinua Achebe, he added, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.”

Obi noted that his consistent criticism of government mismanagement has drawn the ire of political actors who would rather attack his character than address the substance of his message.

“I speak out to help build a new Nigeria, free of criminality and corruption. But instead of addressing the message, those who have hijacked our country deploy media thugs to insult and distract. Now that the American government has made similar observations, perhaps they too will become targets.”

He appealed to citizens who are genuinely invested in Nigeria’s future to reject the politics of identity and demand performance and integrity from those who seek public office.

“To all well-meaning Nigerians: this must stop. We must dismantle the system of criminality. We have voted based on tribe and religion for too long, it is time to vote for competence,” he said. 

“Let us move from waste, looting, and reckless borrowing to production. Let us build a Nigeria that works.”