DON’T DESPAIR, A NEW NIGERIA STILL POSSIBLE -OBI TELLS NIGERIAN YOUTHS

Don’t Despair, a new Nigeria Still Possible – Obi Tells Nigerian Youths

The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the last general elections, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian Youths to keep hope alive because a new Nigeria is still possible.

The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the last general elections, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian youths to remain positive and hopeful for the coming of a new Nigeria, which will be anchored on youth development and productivity.

Obi made this call in his message to mark this year’s International Youth Day.

According to him, the current political confusion and economic challenges in the nation should not discourage the youths, but rather motivate them to remain committed and resolute in the struggle for a new and better Nigeria.

Mr Obi continued: “Unless we remain committed to the struggle for a better nation, we will not be able to achieve the New Nigeria of our dreams. We must remain resilient and persevere against every hardship and obstacle on our journey to a new nation,”

“Many of the nation’s challenges will be overcome if the leaders pay attention to youth development and productivity.” The former Anambra state Governor said.

He said that the high level of insecurity and social vices associated with youths like drug and other substance abuse as well as the high inflation rate in the country to the high unemployment rates among the youthful population in their productive ages.

The very popular presidential candidate in the just concluded election said, “It’s only by providing job opportunities and massively supporting the growth of small businesses in the country, that the challenge of high insecurity, rising inflation, etc will be taken care of.”

On the issue of Niger coup Mr Peter Obi is of the view that the people of Niger Republic should be allowed, via their national institutions, the opportunity to revert quickly to a representative democratic government.

he described the ongoing political crisis in Niger Republic as a matter of dire and urgent national interest and security to Nigeria.

In a statement issued via his verified social media platform on Sunday, Mr Obi applauded the efforts been made by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Below is the full statement by the former Anambra state Governor: “Recent developments in the neighbouring Niger Republic have become the subject of international attention. For Nigeria, this development is a matter of dire and urgent national interest and security.

“Inevitably, Niger is a hot-button issue for ECOWAS, as well as various international interlocutors. Regardless of the positions taken by various parties that have direct or tangential interests in Niger, primacy must be given to dialogue and diplomacy towards a resolution with minimal disruptive impact on Nigeria and the West African sub-region. A total diplomatic resolution must take into consideration the realpolitik of the West African sub-region.

“I applaud the respective mediatory efforts by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Whereas ECOWAS authorities have indicated that they remain open to various conflict resolution options, diplomacy must remain the overarching imperative in resolving the present crisis.

“I join the many well-meaning Nigerians who have advocated that any intervention in the crisis, should be pre-eminently through diplomatic dialogue among all strategic interests in the crisis.

“It is therefore important that the people of Niger are allowed via their national institutions, the opportunity to revert quickly to a representative democratic government. All national, regional and international assistance should be extended to the people of Niger to return their country to normalcy. While ECOWAS must seek to discourage the spread of military dictatorships in West Africa, the recourse to armed deterrence must be retrained by multilateral diplomatic mechanisms.

“What the situation in Niger urgently calls for is a concerted multilateral coalition of Nigeria, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN towards a programmed return to a democratic constitutional order. In this process, Nigeria’s leadership role must not be in any doubt.”