Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has called on Nigerians to turn the country’s painful historical experiences into lessons that can drive national development and unity.
Obi made the call while responding to concerns raised by some Nigerians over his recent appearance on Arise News, where he was questioned about the 1966 coups and other difficult moments in Nigeria’s history.
The former two term Anambra State governor said he remained willing to answer questions on any issue concerning the country, stressing that anyone seeking to lead Nigeria must be accessible to the people.
“As a presidential candidate, I am ready and able to answer any questions about anything relating to Nigeria. I have a commitment to serve the people, not to hide from them,” Obi said.
Reflecting on his travels across the country and his interactions with Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, Obi said the experiences had given him a deeper understanding of the events that have shaped the nation.
He mentioned the 1966 coups, the Nigerian Civil War and other episodes of mass violence as painful chapters that Nigeria must confront honestly rather than allow them to continue driving division.
Obi argued that some of these tragedies could have been avoided if laws and institutions had been properly established and fairly enforced. He blamed leadership failures for the inability to guarantee equal rights and freedoms for all Nigerians.
“My view is that we could have avoided these tragedies if we had entrenched and implemented laws justly. These tragedies are the result of leadership failure. It is our responsibility to understand these failures and fix them,” he said.
According to Obi, Nigeria should learn from its past without allowing historical pain to determine its future. He said countries such as Japan, South Korea and China had faced difficult periods but were able to use those experiences as a basis for economic and institutional development.
He also pointed to Rwanda, saying Nigeria could learn from the East African country’s efforts to use the memory of its tragic past in promoting unity and national development.
Obi said Nigeria needs leadership that focuses on issues capable of bringing citizens together instead of exploiting ethnic, religious and other differences for political gain.
“For me, my responsibility as Nigerian President is to turn the pains and tragedies of the past into opportunities to make Nigeria united, stable, and prosperous,” he said.
The NDC presidential candidate said every part of Nigeria has human and natural resources capable of contributing to national growth and prosperity. He stressed that leaders must recognise this potential and create an environment where citizens can contribute meaningfully to the country’s progress.
He also pledged to continue addressing issues that matter to Nigerians, including difficult aspects of the nation’s history, while working towards a more inclusive society.
“I am ready to speak about what the voters consider important. I am ready to comfort and console. I am ready to lead from the front as we work to turn away from the ugly past and into a future where no Nigerian will suffer on account of his or her ethnicity, religion, or social pedigree,” Obi said.
Obi maintained that Nigeria’s history should be treated as a source of lessons for national transformation rather than a permanent reason for division.
“Our past is important, but our past is not our destiny. Our future is what we do with our past. Our past is our resource for national transformation. We are ready to transform Nigeria,” he said.
