Mr. Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) has told Nigeria’s Editors how the country’s honour and dignity can be restored.
The former Governor of Anambra State addressed the ongoing Annual All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Abuja, on “Reclaiming Our Nation’s Dignity.”
The Conference has as its theme, “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” with the sub-theme, “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect in 2027.” It started on November 11 and is scheduled to end on November 14, 2025.
President Bola Tinubu and other top government officials addressed the Editors during the opening ceremony on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
In a post on his X (former Twitter) platform, Mr. Obi said he reminded the Editors that “our disgrace as a nation does not come from what others say, but from what we have allowed—killings, impunity, corruption, hunger, and the neglect of our people.”
He stressed that presently, “over 130 million Nigerians live in poverty, and more than 20 million children are out of school. These are the real issues that should trouble our collective conscience.”
He said he told the Editors “that true redemption will not come from excuses but from truth, sacrifice, and leadership by example,” insisting that “Nigeria can rise again if we rebuild our moral foundation, invest in education and health, and make public service about the people, not privilege. It is through these values that national dignity can be restored.”
Full text of the tweet reads:
Reclaiming Our Nation’s Dignity: A Call to Conscience
Today (Thursday, November 13, 2025) in Abuja, I addressed the Nigerian Guild of Editors on the theme “Reclaiming Our Nation’s Dignity.” I thanked them for their vital role as shapers of national conscience and reminded them that Nigeria stands at a moral and developmental crossroads. The responsibility before us is immense—to speak truth, guide reflection, and inspire hope for a better nation.
I told them that Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. Recently, President Trump called our country a “now disgraced country,” citing the killings. He only echoed what many Nigerians of conscience have long observed. The debate, therefore, should not be about genocide, but about whether killings are happening at all—from terrorists, kidnappers, and other violent groups—and why they persist with impunity and what should be done to stop it.
I reminded them that our disgrace as a nation does not come from what others say, but from what we have allowed—killings, impunity, corruption, hunger, and the neglect of our people. Today, over 130 million Nigerians live in poverty, and more than 20 million children are out of school. These are the real issues that should trouble our collective conscience.
I told them that true redemption will not come from excuses but from truth, sacrifice, and leadership by example. Nigeria can rise again if we rebuild our moral foundation, invest in education and health, and make public service about the people, not privilege. It is through these values that national dignity can be restored.
I reminded them that editors are not just recorders of history—they are the conscience of the nation. Their work in shaping truth, correcting distortions, and holding leaders accountable is essential to rebuilding trust and dignity in our society.
Finally, I told them that if we govern with transparency, accountability, and compassion, Nigeria will no longer be called a disgraced nation but one of dignity—a people who, though they stumble, always strive to stand upright. Together, we can and must reclaim our nation’s honour.
A New Nigeria is POssible – PO
