From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Mr Peter Obi has restated his conviction that Nigeria could still be transformed into a nation of pride, dignity, and prosperity if it embraces competent and visionary leadership.
Obi, 2023 Labour Party candidate for President, stated this on his verified X handle on Monday after concluding a three-day working visit to the United States, where he held extensive discussions with renowned scholars and global leaders on development and governance.
One of his engagements was a two-hour lunch and walk meeting with Professor James Robinson, co-author of the influential book Why Nations Fail and a Nobel Laureate in Economics for his work on the “Prosperity of Nations.”
According to Obi, Professor Robinson had once observed that some nations, including Nigeria, know the path to prosperity but repeatedly fail to take it.
“That remark struck me profoundly,” Obi said, adding that Robinson emphasised the importance of humility for nations seeking sustainable progress.
“Professor Robinson reminded me that nations must possess the humility to remain learners if they are to advance.
“For me, the dialogue was both challenging and inspiring.
“It strengthened my conviction that Nigeria’s renewal requires difficult choices.
“With committed reforms and prioritising critical sectors of development, we can leapfrog our turnaround,” Obi noted.
Earlier in the year, Obi also visited Johns Hopkins University to meet Professor Peter M. Lewis, author of Growing Apart: Oil, Politics, and Economic Change in Indonesia and Nigeria.
To him, Lewis’ comparative study of both countries raised critical questions about why Indonesia progressed while Nigeria faltered despite starting from similar positions.
To further explore those insights, Obi travelled to Indonesia, where he met with six ministers, a former Vice President, and President Joko Widodo.
Reflecting on these global engagements, Obi stressed that Nigeria’s story was not a closed chapter of decline but an unfinished narrative with the potential for redemption.
“With capacity, character, commitment, and compassion in leadership, Nigeria can still rise again. A new Nigeria is possible,” Obi affirmed.
