Olushola Omogbehin
The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, has officially announced his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He made this announcement at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu on Wednesday, where he delivered a New Year address.
In his address, Obi accused APC led government of state capture, economic mismanagement and systematic erosion of democratic values.
“This decision is guided solely by patriotism and national interest. I now respectfully call on my political associates, the Obidient Movement and opposition leaders across the country to join this broad national coalition under the African Democratic Congress. History will not forgive silence in moments of national peril.
“As the year 2025 ends today, we stand on the threshold of a new beginning. For Nigeria, moments of profound national challenge demand clarity of purpose and decisive action. That moment is now,” Obi stated.
Describing Nigeria as a nation in distress, the former governor of Anambra State, mentioned widespread poverty, unemployment and insecurity as the elements of distress Nigeria is currently facing, saying:
“With over 130 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty and more than 80 million youths unemployed, our people are in persistent agony. This is not the destiny God bequeathed to over 220 million Nigerians. Nigeria is looted into poverty”
Speaking further, Obi said:
“As a nation, we are not poor; we are looted into poverty. Nigeria is not broken; Nigeria is severely betrayed. The average Nigerian is not lazy or incompetent, but the system is rigged to reward mediocrity and recycle failure.
“Their expertise lies in creating more divisions to sustain themselves in office. With little or no interest in unity or inclusive development,” he said.
Comparing Nigeria’s political journey with countries that have achieved rapid development through unity and good leadership, he mentioned Indonesia as an example of how the choice of leadership matters.
“Indonesia and Nigeria started with similar characteristics,” Obi noted, “but while Indonesia is now a trillion-dollar economy, Nigeria is grappling with de-industrialisation, corruption and deepening poverty.”
Describing Federal Government’s tax reform as anti-people, he said a tax regime founded on forgery cannot build prosperity.
