by George Ozalla
Former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Mr Peter Obi, delivered a compelling address today at the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Abuja, urging journalists and editors to take a proactive role in reshaping Nigeria’s public discourse and national identity.
Obi highlighted what he described as a deep-seated moral crisis in Nigeria, noting that over 130 million Nigerians live in poverty and more than 20 million children are out of school. He stressed that Nigeria’s high infant mortality rates, surpassing those of India and China despite a smaller population, reflect a nation in crisis. He emphasized that these conditions are a result of internal neglect and societal tolerance of corruption, not merely external perception.
Addressing issues of governance and electoral integrity, Obi condemned vote-buying, bribery, and impunity. He recounted a personal experience in an election where voters were influenced by cash handouts and contrasted this with the potential impact of investing the same resources in rebuilding schools. He argued that when citizens sell their votes, they compromise their conscience, and when collective conscience fades, the nation suffers.
Obi urged editors to go beyond recording events to become the conscience of the nation. He highlighted the crucial role of journalism in shaping national perception and holding leaders accountable, insisting on free and fair elections, transparency in public spending, and prioritization of education, health, and human development over mere political image management.
He also emphasized that truth-telling is a patriotic duty, insisting that exposing Nigeria’s challenges is essential for reclaiming dignity. He criticized the misallocation of resources, noting that while large sums are spent on high-profile projects, many citizens still suffer preventable hardships such as maternal deaths and poor schooling conditions.
Concluding his address, Obi called for a moral rebirth of the nation, inviting media professionals to lead the process of rewriting Nigeria’s narrative from one of despair to one of dignity and purpose. He stressed that the country can recover if truth, sacrifice, and leadership by example guide its course.
Mr Peter Obi is a former Governor of Anambra State and was the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election. The Nigerian Guild of Editors is the umbrella body for editors in Nigeria, and its annual conference convenes senior journalists and media executives to discuss issues affecting press freedom, governance, and media ethics.
