Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, has encouraged Nigerians living abroad to take responsibility for holding the Nigerian government accountable.
He asserted that in addition to exercising their constitutional right to vote, the public’s sacred duty is to hold elected officials responsible for achieving the desired level of development.
In a series of tweets posted on his verified Twitter account on Tuesday, the former governor of Anambra State also stated that Nigeria needs visionary leadership and creative thinkers to get things right.
“Nigeria can only be placed back on the proper trajectory with the help of one visionary leader and innovative thinker,” he asserted. Our vision and goal is to transform our nation from a consumer culture to a producer culture in order to fully reflect our democracy.”
He also exhorted Nigerians living abroad to use their connections and numbers to pressure their home country’s leaders to improve governance.
“You have the network and numbers to be able to negotiate the government’s priorities, especially during an election season like the one we are about to enter.”
“You should be able to place pressing issues on the agenda of the candidates and subsequently, on the front burners for the new government that will be formed,” he remarked.
The LP presidential candidate continued, “Holding an elected government accountable is a citizen’s most coveted role outside of voting. It is your responsibility to assist in holding your state and national governments in your home country responsible using your education, exposure to and understanding of government duties in your host country, and collective leverage.
Obi stated that if elected, his administration would vigorously combat insecurity while promoting good governance and the rule of law.
“We will pursue intangible assets of good governance, rule of law, security of lives and properties, through an aggressive increase in personnel and equipment and inclusive training of operatives in our security agencies.
“We will emphasize patriotism, national interest, and national morale, quality of government, political will and character, which are all complimentary to the other assets. We will ensure that we have these assets in place and stress asset optimization.”
“In the New Nigeria we seek, we must think out of the box and at times, disruptively. As government and as Nigerians in Diaspora, we must henceforth contemplate those global best practices that will confer comparative advantage on us, and replicate known successes that can move Nigeria from consumption to production.
“No country thrives economically merely by exporting its raw materials and importing virtually everything. Such a disposition weakens our economic base and employment capabilities.
“Nigeria can no longer afford to remain a consuming economy. While meeting local demands, she must transition into trading with manufactured and finished goods, and playing in the technology in the export market.”
