Peter Obi meets Nigerian professionals in Washington, calls for leadership reform

News, Politics

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has met with a group of young Nigerian professionals in Washington, D.C., as part of discussions on Nigeria’s governance, institutional reforms and national development.

The former Anambra State governor and advocate of “A New Nigeria is Possible” met with medical doctors and other healthcare professionals, educators, lawyers, engineers, technology experts, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Obi, in a statement issued after the meeting, said Nigeria had the human and material resources required for development but had suffered from leadership that, according to him, had failed to consistently put the interests of citizens first.

Advertisement

According to the NDC presidential candidate, the country needed leadership capable of strengthening institutions, investing in education and healthcare, supporting businesses and entrepreneurs, creating jobs and expanding opportunities for young Nigerians.

He said the discussions with the professionals focused largely on good governance and the urgent reforms needed to move the country forward.

Obi said while economic, political and institutional reforms remained important, leadership itself was the most important reform Nigeria needed.

He said: **“No nation can rise above the character, competence, capacity, and commitment of those entrusted with its leadership.

“Nigeria is blessed.

“We are not lacking in intelligent people. We are not lacking in natural resources. We are not lacking in hardworking and innovative young people. What we have lacked for far too long is leadership that genuinely puts the people first and treats public resources as a sacred trust.”**

The former governor said Nigeria needed leadership that would strengthen public institutions, invest seriously in education and healthcare, support businesses and entrepreneurs, and create jobs and opportunities for young people.

He added that such leadership should also give Nigerians confidence that hard work could translate into a better quality of life.

Reflecting on his meeting with the professionals in Washington, Obi said the discussion reminded him of the talent Nigerians had produced and their contributions to different sectors around the world.

He said Nigerians in the diaspora should not be regarded simply as people who had left the country, but as an important part of Nigeria’s development and potential partners in rebuilding the nation.

Obi said: “Across the world, Nigerians are making remarkable contributions in medicine, technology, engineering, law, education, business, and many other fields. Our diaspora should never be seen as people who have simply left Nigeria. They remain an important part of Nigeria and must be partners in rebuilding our country.”

He called for the creation of a Nigeria where young people would not have to leave the country to fulfil their aspirations, while Nigerians living abroad would be able to return, invest and participate confidently in national development.

“That Nigeria is possible,” he said, while stressing that achieving it would require deliberate action.

According to Obi, responsible and compassionate leadership, stronger institutions, prudent management of public resources and active citizen participation would be necessary to achieve the desired transformation.

He said Nigeria’s greatest resource was its people and maintained that getting leadership right would be critical to addressing the country’s challenges.

“If we get leadership right, we can get Nigeria right,” Obi said, urging Nigerians to continue believing in the country, working for its progress and demanding a nation that works for everyone.