The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has called on Nigeria’s political leaders to reflect on their priorities, saying the country’s worsening insecurity and economic hardship should take precedence over political calculations.
Obi made the remarks after completing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination inquiry form in Abuja on Monday, noting that his details had been uploaded onto the Commission’s server.
In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor said a question on the INEC nomination form prompted him to reflect on the state of leadership in the country.
“What truly should be our priority now as leaders of a nation?” Obi asked.
He said the question had become necessary “given where we are today as a nation and where we are supposed to be.”
According to him, Section E, Question 1 of the nomination form asks whether an aspirant has ever been adjudged a lunatic or declared to be of unsound mind.
“While completing my INEC nomination form yesterday, Section E, Question 1 caught my attention. It asks: ‘Have you ever been adjudged a lunatic or been declared a person of unsound mind?’ The answer is either Yes or No.
“That question got me thinking: Can we, as the political leaders of today’s Nigeria, truly say we are exhibiting characteristics of a sound mind? When our children are being abducted into the bushes, when citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, and when several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from; when several billions are being siphoned frivolously through non-existent agencies and projects. In such adverse circumstances as we are, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?” he said.
Obi argued that a responsible leadership would have convened an emergency meeting involving political leaders across party lines and other critical stakeholders to address the country’s pressing challenges.
“A leadership exercising a sound mind would have convened an emergency meeting of political leaders across various parties and other critical stakeholders to confront these existential challenges facing our nation today. The survival of Nigeria should have been prioritised over the pursuit of political advantage,” he stated.
The former governor also drew attention to another question on the nomination form relating to the submission of forged certificates, saying it raised important issues about transparency in the electoral process.
“Further, in the same Section E, Question 6, was: ‘Have you ever presented a forged certificate to INEC?’ Again, the answer is either Yes or No.
“This raises another important question: Why shouldn’t INEC, in the interest of ensuring that our leaders are exemplary in following the rules and for public confidence in our process, publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by every candidate seeking elective office? Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust,” Obi said.
He maintained that Nigeria’s challenges required leaders with integrity and competence rather than continued political distractions.
“Nigeria’s problems are too serious for politics as usual. It is time for leadership defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion and commitment to service. A new Nigeria is possible,” he added.
