Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP),
says he won’t relent in his fight to bring about the leadership that Nigerians
deserve.
In a Democracy Day message, Obi said Nigerians should be
inspired to correct the errors of the 2023 elections.
According to the LP candidate, Nigerians on June 12, 1993,
stated their unreserved preference for true democracy and chose a transparent
voting system despite being under military rule.
“Our votes reflected our true choice as a people. Our choice
on that day defied divisions of ethnicity, religion, and region,” Obi said.
“It is these
qualities that added up to make June 12 special in our search for true
democracy.
“However, the current state of our politics tells a
different story. Our democracy is deeply troubled while our nation’s destiny
remains uncertain and precarious.
“We remain a nation in search of solutions to too many basic
problems. One of these is the search for a credible electoral system that would
command the trust, confidence, and belief of all Nigerians just like June 12
did.
“We should, therefore,
use the commemoration of June 12 as an occasion to return to the true virtues
of a truly democratic nation. We achieved that feat on June 12, 1993.”
He said Nigeria needs to have an electoral system that
commands the trust of the people.
“This is in recognition of the tenets and core values of
democracy, which rest on respect for the wishes of the people as expressed in
their ballots,” Obi said.
“Above all, the government must respect and protect the
institutions of the democratic state by respecting the social contract with the
people by meeting their needs, obeying their wishes, and fulfilling the
responsibilities of responsible governance as contained in the constitution.
“A cardinal responsibility of government in this regard is
respect for the rule of law.”
He said Nigeria is in an era where the foundational pillars
of democracy are undermined by “prevalent impunity and pervasive violence, and
bloodletting”.
“The trust deficit between the leaders and Nigerians
continues to expand. The deficits of trust and efficiency in our last elections
demonstrate this malady quite boldly.”
Obi urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the inbuilt design
of “our democratic system to self-correct”.
He expressed commitment and conviction that a new Nigeria is
possible, noting that Nigerians’ aspiration for a nation of equity, justice,
security, and peace is achievable.
“We are a nation blessed richly with human and natural
resources,” he said.
“What we lack, are
selfless leaders who are committed to the national interest, sustainable
development, and innovative thinking that offers every Nigerian irrespective of
ethnicity, religion, or social strata, the freedom of choice of abode, and
protection of lives, property, and ordered liberties.
“These aspirations are real and achievable, and I hereby
reiterate my promise to Nigerians that we will not relent in our fight to bring
about leadership that will accord them the priority they deserve.”
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