● Ferdy Agu
Enugu – Nigeria, At an interactive session with seminarians today during the centenary celebration of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, urged Nigerians to embrace productivity over consumption. The Rector of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Very Rev. Fr. Albert Ikpenwa, introduced Obi, describing him as a man whose leadership embodies the values of integrity, accountability, and innovation.
Speaking to the seminarians, Obi reiterated the urgent need for Nigeria to become a productive nation, drawing comparisons with smaller, resource-limited countries like Israel and war-torn Ukraine. “Ukraine, despite being at war, is still supplying Nigeria with grains. Israel, with limited land and resources, feeds itself and exports food to the world. Meanwhile, we have vast, untapped resources and yet depend on imports to survive,” Obi lamented. Highlighting Nigeria’s agricultural potential, he noted that “Ukraine sits on 600,000 square kilometers of land while northern Nigeria alone is about 750,000 square kilometers with vast uncultivated land. There’s no excuse for our dependency on imports.”
Obi also emphasized the need to rethink religious and cultural practices that hinder economic productivity. “We spend so much time in night vigils; those should be converted to night shifts. Hard work and productivity are what will change this nation,” he said, adding that aligning work ethics with national development is critical for economic growth.
The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate also addressed the issue of electoral reform, arguing that credible leadership begins with credible elections. “Without comprehensive electoral reforms, we cannot expect credible elections,” Obi said. He criticized the structural flaws in Nigeria’s electoral system, which he argued disenfranchise many and enable corruption. “What the 2023 presidential election could have done for us, at best, would have been a coalition government. A true democracy thrives when every vote counts and leaders are held accountable.”
Obi shared lessons from his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, where he prioritized education, fiscal discipline, and investment in productive sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. “Nigeria is blessed with abundant resources, yet we are one of the largest importers of goods we can produce locally. This needs to change if we are to take our rightful place among the nations,” he emphasized.
The interactive session formed part of the week-long celebration of Bigard Memorial Seminary’s 100 years of excellence, which began on November 10. The Rector, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Ikpenwa, applauded the interactive session with Mr Peter Obi for “fostering thought-provoking dialogue,” describing it as “an opportunity for the seminarians to understand the intersection of faith, leadership, and national development.”
Obi also highlighted the need for collaboration among policymakers, entrepreneurs, and religious institutions to foster moral and economic development. He urged Nigerians to collectively take responsibility for the nation’s progress. “We cannot keep blaming our leaders alone. Each of us has a role to play in building a better Nigeria. Our future depends on how we use what we have,” he stated.
The grand finale of the centenary celebration is scheduled to hold tomorrow, November 21, and will have in attendance dignitaries from the Catholic world, government, and business leaders. Obi’s remarks during the session remain a clarion call for a shift from dependency to self-sufficiency, serving as a timely reminder of the potential that lies within Nigeria. “The time to act is now. Our destiny is in our hands,” Obi concluded. GMTNewsng
