Obi: Achebe would weep for today’s Nigeria — but there will be a country

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last elections, says Chinua Achebe, the late literary icon, would weep at the “realities” of Nigeria if he were alive.

According to a statement by Tai Obasi, Obi’s media aide, the LP candidate spoke during the Chinua Achebe international symposium held at Princeton University, US.

Obi said Achebe was prophetic in his assessment of Nigeria, noting that “he was very right about leadership being the issue”.

He added that Nigeria is bedevilled by corruption, adding that eliminating corruption is “very easy”.

The LP presidential candidate said, “we can start thinking of a new Nigeria with competence and capacity that is committed to fighting corruption”.

“Forty years ago, a million Naira was valued at $1.6 million. Today same amount is valued at just $1000,” Obi said.

“Even though our great father, Achebe, would weep at the realities today, he was very right about leadership being the issue.

“Our country has been bedevilled by corruption. Stealing public money has left us where we are today.

“People say that fighting corruption is not easy, but it is very easy. If you are in charge and you are not stealing, your wife is not stealing, your children are not stealing, those working with you will not have any reason to steal, and you must have reduced corruption by over 50 percent.

“We can start thinking of a new Nigeria with competence, and capacity that is committed to fighting corruption. Is it possible to fight corruption? The answer is yes!

“So painful, but I like to assure us Nigerians that There Will Be A Country. A country where leaders will be who they claim to be.

“A country where leaders will be of known identities, known parentage, where schools they claimed to have attended and certificates obtained would be accurately verified.”