Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi has urged the Nigerian Guild of Editors to critically examine the reasons behind labelling Nigeria as “a disgraced country.”
He urged editors to focus not just on whether acts of violence qualify as genocide, but rather on the existence of such killings and the underlying reasons behind them.
He stated this in an address themed “Reclaiming Our Nation’s Dignity: A Call to Conscience,” at the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Abuja on Thursday.
In a statement signed by the spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Ibrahim Umar, the former Anambra governor, said “If someone tags us as a disgraced country, we should ask ourselves whether there are issues within our society that warrant this disgrace.”
Obi acknowledged the media’s impact on his political career, saying he has benefited significantly from it. Still, he insisted that more effort is required to inspire the younger generation to embrace the values upheld by their elders.
He challenged the editors to address what he described as executive recklessness, likening it to a situation where one feasts while asking others to fast.
While acknowledging that policies such as subsidy removal and currency unification can be beneficial, he criticised the current execution of these policies for being mishandled.
He reiterated that borrowing is not inherently harmful, as even developed nations have debts, but questioned the intentions behind such borrowing, asking, “Are we borrowing to feast?”
“Our country stands at a critical juncture. Just two weeks ago, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, described Nigeria as a ‘now disgraced country.’ He referred to the ongoing killings in our land, reflecting the sentiments expressed by many conscientious Nigerians for years, often at the cost of being accused of de-marketing their own country.
“Our disgrace as a nation does not stem from external opinions, but from the conditions we have allowed, killings, impunity, corruption, hunger, and the neglect of our people. Today, over 130 million Nigerians live in poverty, and more than 20 million children are out of school. These pressing issues should weigh heavily on our collective conscience.
“True redemption will not come from making excuses but will arise from truth, sacrifice, and leadership by example. Nigeria can rise again if we rebuild our moral foundation, invest in education and healthcare, and prioritise public service for the people rather than for privilege. It is through these values that we can restore our national dignity,” Obi added.
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