TDFormer presidential candidate Peter Obi has formally aligned with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), attending the party’s inaugural convention in Abuja.
In a passionate and uncompromising speech, Obi praised the resilience of Nigerians while issuing a stark warning: the country’s democracy is under siege, and the nation is drifting dangerously toward collapse.
Quoting Winston Churchill, Obi declared: “Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others change their principles for the sake of their party.”
He insisted that his decision to join the NDC was rooted in principle, not opportunism, positioning himself as a defender of democratic values at a time when he believes they are being systematically eroded.
Gratitude to NDC and ADC
Obi expressed deep appreciation to the NDC family, led by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, for their inclusiveness and generosity of spirit.
He also extended gratitude to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Senator David Mark, acknowledging their role in providing a political platform during turbulent times when litigation forced him out of the Labour Party and the NNPP.
“That spirit of solidarity must remain the foundation upon which a better Nigeria will be built,” Obi emphasized, underscoring the importance of unity among opposition forces.
Democracy Under Threat
Obi’s speech carried a blistering critique of Nigeria’s political elite.
He accused many former champions of democracy of now enabling its destruction, celebrating electoral injustice, and defending coercion, manipulation, and outright political gangsterism.
“What we are witnessing is not politics; it is a systematic assault on democracy and the will of the people,” he declared.
He warned that Nigeria’s democratic institutions are weakening daily under the weight of corruption and impunity.
Nigeria’s Dire Situation
Obi painted a grim portrait of Nigeria’s current reality:
- Over 140 million Nigerians trapped in multidimensional poverty.
- Tens of millions of youths unemployed or underemployed, their dreams crushed.
- Inflation relentlessly squeezing families, while businesses shut down in droves.
- Farmers unable to access their lands due to insecurity, worsening food shortages.
- Hundreds of innocent Nigerians killed or kidnapped in recent weeks, leaving communities in fear and despair.
He argued that Nigeria is not inherently poor but has been “looted into poverty” by a political class that thrives on division and personal gain.
A Nation at the Crossroads
Obi warned that Nigeria is increasingly described abroad as a failing and disgraced nation, a reputation he insists must be reversed.
He highlighted failures across every indicator of governance—accountability, rule of law, control of corruption, and government effectiveness—arguing that leadership has failed to prioritize the common good.
Obi said: “Our present tragedy is not accidental.
“It is the direct consequence of years of deliberate sabotage by a political class that prospers by dividing the people and weakening the nation.”
Call to Action
Obi concluded with a rallying cry, urging Nigerians to resist despair and fight for renewal:
“Our choice as a people is clear: whether to surrender to despair and national decline, or to summon the courage to rescue our country and rebuild it on the foundations of unity, equity, justice, competence, and productivity.”
In short, Peter Obi’s appearance at the NDC convention marks a pivotal moment in his political journey.
His fiery denunciation of Nigeria’s current trajectory and his call for reform set the stage for what could become a defining struggle in the nation’s political future.
Whether his new alliance with the NDC can galvanize a movement strong enough to challenge entrenched elites remains to be seen.
In the meantime, his message was unmistakable: Nigeria’s democracy is in peril, and only bold, principled leadership can rescue it.
