[dropcap]J[/dropcap]ust like that, we are in the last month of 2022. It’s been an eventful year for Nigeria and Nigerians worldwide. What an amazing grace that has brought us this far. I am particularly grateful for God’s special love for me, my family, and our country.
As a result of uninspired leadership driven by men with compromised minds and corrupted hearts, Nigerians have had to suffer untold hardships, dehumanisation, and hopelessness. It’s by God’s mercies that we have not all been consumed. But there’s good news.
This year, Nigerians have shown up for their country with an intensity that we haven’t seen in our history. Early in 2022, a group of outliers, early believers in the possibilities of Nigeria, began to organise around the presidential aspirations of Peter Obi, a former governor and vice presidential candidate. Before this, I had spent the last two years during my gubernatorial campaign publicly advocating for a Peter Obi Presidency.
What a beauty it has been to behold the rising of citizens – young and elderly, poor and privileged, Christian and Muslim, Northern and Southern, home and abroad – all come together to say, “Enough is enough!” to the old order. “We want our country back, and we are taking it back!”
The political establishment dismissed this movement. The elite of the two major political parties and their candidates dismissed this movement. Many of Peter Obi’s political associates and friends told him his candidacy wouldn’t last two months. Some told him they had gone down that “small party” road before and that there was no hope.
What Peter Obi’s naysayers didn’t reckon with was the undaunted nature of the Nigerian youth, the undefeatable spirit of Nigerians, and the magic that happens when we create one community around a common vision.
Today, the brightest light on the continent of Africa is the Obidient Movement which is organising on the streets, markets, campuses, and social media to bring about a New Nigeria. What a beauty it has been to behold the rising of citizens – young and elderly, poor and privileged, Christian and Muslim, Northern and Southern, home and abroad – all come together to say, “Enough is enough!” to the old order. “We want our country back, and we are taking it back!”
Something has unlocked in Nigeria, the status quo is being erased, and we are consciously rewriting our narrative. We are creating a New Nigeria where everyone will have a chance to realise their full potential. A Nigeria where justice and the rule of law will be a national culture. A united Nigeria where peace reigns from Sokoto to Akwa Ibom, Borno to Lagos. The New Nigeria of our dreams is POssible, I can feel it.
I want to call on all Nigerians everywhere to join this historic movement for change. We all have a role to play. We need you. Visit our website, www.obidatticampaign.com, register, volunteer, and donate. We have a valuable gift here – an opportunity to build our nation anew. Let’s seize the moment and take this to victory in February 2023.
God bless everyone. Happy New Month!
Valentine Ozigbo is an inspirational Nigerian political figure, a multiple-award-winning global CEO, and the immediate past president and group chief executive of Transcorp Plc. He is the Special Adviser to Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate on Technology and Strategic Alliances and a 2021 Anambra governorship candidate. He can be reached via Twitter @valentineozigbo, Facebook @valentineozigbo, and Instagram @valyntino.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
