The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian youths to take responsibility for building a better nation by electing leaders with competence, capacity, compassion, and character.

He made the call at the National Youth Rally marking the 40th anniversary of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), hosted by the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, at the weekend.

Obi decried Nigeria’s squandered opportunities, stressing that a nation so abundantly blessed with human and natural resources should not be trapped in hunger, insecurity, and bad governance.

He said, “Becoming President of Nigeria is not a disaster. The real disaster is when leaders lack the courage and will to make the country work. We cannot remain on a path where leaders trade in lies while the people starve.”

Obi urged the youth to register to vote, especially those who had just turned 18 and had not registered before. He reminded them that their voter’s card is their greatest weapon against bad leadership.

Warning against vote-selling, Obi said: “Once you sell your vote, you have also sold your healthcare, your education, and your future. God has blessed Nigeria, but He will not come down to elect leaders for us. It is our responsibility to choose leaders who genuinely care for the people, especially the youth.”

In his remarks, Rev. Fr. Paschal Udo, Principal Chaplain of CYON, Awka Diocese, expressed gratitude to Obi for always making out time to be with the youth. “You may not fully realise the inspiration the young people draw simply by seeing and listening to you,” he said at the rally. Fr. Udo noted that Nigerian youths were weary of endless complaints and were now ready for decisive action. “What happened in 2023 will not repeat itself. We are determined to take our future into our own hands. In you, we see the values of honesty, integrity, and truth, and we will continue to stand with leaders like you to change Nigeria,” he assured.

The rally brought together thousands of Catholic youths from across Nigeria, who converged in Awka to celebrate CYON’s 40 years of existence and to reaffirm their commitment to playing a leading role in the renewal of the nation. (Nigerian Tribune)