By Our Reporter
Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian editors to take the lead in restoring the moral and ethical foundations of the nation, lamenting that Nigeria’s current challenges stem not from foreign criticism but from internal decay, indifference, and leadership failure.
Speaking at the on-going Nigerian Guild of Editors’ annual conference in Abuja on the theme “Reclaiming Our Nation’s Dignity,” Obi said Nigeria has reached a critical crossroads and must now confront the uncomfortable truths that have eroded its national pride.
He referenced a recent social media comment by former U.S. President Donald Trump describing Nigeria as a “disgraced country,” noting that while many Nigerians took offence, the statement should provoke sober reflection rather than outrage.
“The real question is not whether there is genocide or not, but why we have killings, insecurity, and impunity that persist. Our disgrace is not what others say about us, but what we have allowed ourselves to become,” Obi said.
He painted a bleak picture of the nation’s current realities—over 130 million citizens living in poverty, more than 20 million out-of-school children, a high rate of infant mortality, youth unemployment, and worsening corruption.
Despite these grim statistics, Obi called for renewed faith in the nation’s ability to rebuild through integrity, sacrifice, and investment in human capital.
Recalling his visits to schools of nursing and health institutions across Anambra and Enugu, Obi said he was most moved by the plight of pupils at the Practising School in Agulu, whose classrooms had been burnt and who were learning under the rain. He pledged to commence reconstruction of the school by January 2026, describing education as the cornerstone of national progress.
He also narrated an incident during the Anambra governorship election when some locals asked for cash in exchange for votes. Obi said he refused to engage in vote-buying, choosing instead to direct resources toward rebuilding schools.
> “If I used ₦10 million to buy 200 votes and with that same money rebuilt the burnt school where children learn under the rain, which is better? I would rather lose ten times than buy votes once. When a people sell their votes, they sell their conscience, and when conscience dies, the nation follows,” he declared.
Obi stressed that reclaiming Nigeria’s dignity requires rebuilding moral integrity, strengthening education and healthcare, and ending corruption and electoral malpractice. He urged editors to serve as the nation’s conscience by shaping narratives that promote accountability and good governance.
“You are not just recorders of history but the conscience of the nation. Hold leaders accountable, not for promises made, but for promises kept,” he charged.
Concluding, Obi said that if Nigerians commit to honesty, justice, and leadership by example, the country would no longer be described as “disgraced” but as a nation of dignity and hope.
“Let us rebuild our moral foundation. Let us insist that public funds be used to build schools and hospitals, not to buy votes. Only then will we reclaim our honour among nations,” he said.