A former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze, has called for the building of a new Nigeria where all the component ethnic groups will genuinely feel that they have a stake in the country’s future.
Anakwenze made this call on Monday in a signed statement, titled: “Hope for Nigeria,” a copy of which was made available to newsmen, urging for a true democracy and a united Nigeria where every citizen truly feels a sense of belonging.
The PDP chieftain, while making the call, advocated for a Nigeria where leadership is based on merit; and hard work, fairness for all, and accountability were the measure of the national character, and where the country was in the true sense of the word united and every citizen feels a sense of belonging and not marginalized.
“We want a true democracy in Nigeria beginning with freedom for fellow Nigerians and by extension, Africa, as a whole. We want a new Nigeria in which the various ethnic groups feel that they have a stake in the country’s future.
“We envision a Nigeria where leadership is based on merit; and hard work, fairness for all, and accountability are the measure of our national character.
“We envision a United Nigeria in the true sense of the word ‘United’, where every Nigerian feels a sense of belonging and not marginalized, where the governed have trust in the governance and the governed truly believe that they can vote, and be voted for to serve and where they understand the true meaning of ‘public trust,'” he said.
“We want a country where regardless of one’s ethnic and/or religious background, one feels that one is a part of the equation.
“We envision a Nigeria where ethnic diversity is seen as a strength and an asset to be harnessed and celebrated as part of our rich heritage.
“We want a country where equity, fairness, and justice should be the guiding principles for a just society that we envision. We want a Nigeria where the majority’s right is balanced with the minority’s right.
“Nigerians should believe in the healthy competitive excellence that is the hallmark of great nations. Let’s make our children superstars through competition and excellence with the rest of the world,” he added.
Speaking further, Anakwenze asserted that the Nigerian youths were equal to the task of making the country great, noting that Nigerian children in America ranked between 1-5 percent in academics or job performances, but “only need our support and encouragement.”
This was just as he equally emphasized the need to love one another to build a nation where the North and South, Christians and Muslims would remain united in a country extremely blessed by God with a lot of human, mineral and natural resources to transform the living conditions of her people.
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