Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged Nigeria’s political leaders to set aside divisions and embrace genuine national unity, insisting that it remains the country’s only realistic pathway out of its worsening economic and security crises.
Obi made the call while delivering a goodwill message at the 60th birthday symposium of former Sokoto State Governor and Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, held in Abuja at the weekend.
The event drew a wide array of prominent political figures cutting across party lines, regions and ideological leanings, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ADC National Chairman Senator David Mark, and former Speakers of the House of Representatives Aminu Masari, Patricia Etteh and Yakubu Dogara, alongside serving and former governors and other national stakeholders.
Obi described the broad-based attendance as a powerful reminder of Nigeria’s shared destiny and the importance of dialogue, cooperation and collective responsibility in a deeply plural society.
In his remarks, Obi warned that Nigeria’s deepening hardship—manifested in rising insecurity, economic distress and declining public trust—cannot be solved through partisan politics, ethnic sentiment or sectional interests.
“Our challenges have grown beyond political differences,” he said. “Only a united national front, anchored on shared values, competence and mutual respect, can rescue Nigeria from its current trajectory.”
He cautioned that persistent political polarisation and ethnic mistrust continue to weaken national institutions, undermine governance and stall development, stressing that division remains one of the country’s greatest obstacles to progress.
Obi described Senator Tambuwal as a leader whose political journey reflects the value of bridge-building and inclusion, noting that leadership should be measured not by political longevity or advantage, but by commitment to unity, dialogue and the national interest.
He commended Tambuwal’s focus on people-centred sectors such as education, healthcare and agriculture, describing them as critical pillars not only for economic growth but also for national cohesion.
“When citizens have access to quality education, functional healthcare and productive livelihoods, social tensions reduce and unity is strengthened,” Obi said, adding that investment in human development fosters a shared sense of ownership in the nation’s future.
Drawing from his travels across the country, Obi lamented that Nigeria’s enormous human and material potential remains largely untapped due to disunity, poor governance and misplaced priorities.
He observed that Nigerians across regions face similar challenges—unemployment, hunger and insecurity—yet remain divided by politics and identity. According to him, unity would enable the country to shift from a consumption-driven economy to one focused on production, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.
Obi further argued that a united Nigeria would be better positioned to confront poverty, corruption and insecurity with clarity and resolve, noting that these challenges do not recognise ethnic, religious or regional boundaries.
“Unity must go beyond slogans,” he said. “It must be a conscious policy choice reflected in leadership conduct, governance decisions and equitable resource allocation.”
He concluded that Senator Tambuwal’s 60th birthday celebration was more than a personal milestone, describing it as an opportunity for national reflection on the kind of leadership Nigeria urgently needs.
According to Obi, the gathering underscored the necessity for political leaders to prioritise collaboration over conflict and nation-building over personal ambition.
Reaffirming his long-held belief, Obi said a united Nigeria guided by competent, compassionate and inclusive leadership remains achievable.
“A New Nigeria is possible,” he declared, stressing that the journey must begin with leaders choosing unity as the foundation for national progress.
Nigeria Can Only Move Forward Through Unity, Obi tells Political Leaders
