By George Ozalla
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Saturday in Madrid urged Nigerians to embrace a values-based approach to national rebirth, stressing that the country must reject shortcuts and questionable wealth if it hopes to realise meaningful development. Obi stated this in Spain during the Reimagining Nigeria Symposium 2025, which had the theme A Journey to Development.
Obi arrived in Madrid on the morning of 15 November and began a series of meetings focused on strengthening partnerships and exploring new opportunities for future generations. According to him, the engagements were part of broader efforts to deepen international collaboration for Nigeria’s development.
He told participants at the symposium that Nigeria’s agricultural potential remains one of its most neglected assets. According to Obi, the country’s vast arable land and energetic young population position it to become a global leader in food production rather than being counted among the world’s hungriest and poorest nations.
Obi also emphasised the need to build genuine businesses anchored on transparency and integrity. He warned that any system that glorifies shortcuts or celebrates criminality cannot support sustainable growth. According to him, the foundation of economic progress must rest on hard work, honesty, and a collective insistence on doing what is right.
He expressed encouragement at the rising wave of national advocacy, noting that the task of rebuilding the country cannot be left to leaders alone. He said citizens must increasingly use their voices, platforms, and actions to demand accountability, uphold good governance, and reinforce the values needed to shape the Nigeria they desire.
Obi maintained that the journey to rebuilding the nation goes beyond policies and depends greatly on shared values and the collective resolve to act responsibly. He added that a more productive, united, and globally competitive Nigeria is achievable if stakeholders continue to work together with sincerity and purpose.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, has continued to advocate for reforms rooted in accountability, productivity, and a citizen-driven approach to nation-building.
