|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians, particularly his supporters, to reject hate and bitterness, emphasizing that these have no place in the nation’s future.
Obi made this appeal in response to criticism he faced for congratulating former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on his 90th birthday. Many critics, particularly victims of the civil war, felt Obi should not have celebrated Gowon, whose military regime oversaw Nigeria’s brutal 30-month civil war, which claimed over a million lives, mostly among the Igbo.
In a post titled “Why I Congratulated Gen. Gowon at 90” on his X handle, Obi explained that his gesture was not to disregard the pain caused by the war, but to promote reconciliation and healing for Nigeria’s future.
He wrote: “I share in the sentiments of many who were affected by the war. As a leader, I believe it is crucial to show that the ultimate heroism lies in forgiving the enemy and moving forward. The civil war was the darkest part of our nation’s history, but anger and hatred will only continue to divide us.”
Obi referenced Nigeria’s efforts towards reconciliation, such as the national burial given to the Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in 2012. He also quoted Bible verses on forgiveness, emphasizing that while bitterness is a natural response to cruelty, forgiveness sets people free and opens the door for healing.
He urged those angered by his greetings to Gowon to join him in the mission of building a new Nigeria, free from ethnic, religious, and regional bitterness.
Obi concluded by stating, “What Nigeria needs urgently is good governance, which can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and justice.”
