Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has assured aspirants of the party that their sacrifices and commitment to building a new Nigeria will not be in vain even if they eventually fail to secure party tickets.
Obi, who spoke in Abuja on Monday night, said the party was committed to establishing a political institution based on service, fairness, inclusion and internal democracy, and not personal interests and transactional politics.
He praised aspirants for making themselves available for public service at a trying time in Nigeria’s history, stressing that their courage and sacrifices would be rewarded by the party.
I assure you that your sacrifice will not be in vain. “Not all of us are going to make it, not all of us are going to be picked, not all of us are going to be winners, but it’s time we start recognizing the people who have worked so hard for this country,” Obi said.
He called on party members not to allow themselves to be discouraged by temporary setbacks, stressing that the task of rebuilding the country required sacrifice and perseverance.
“The NDC is not being created as a platform for opportunistic politicians seeking ephemeral relevance but as a permanent political movement that would outlive its founders,” he said.
“We are not creating a special purpose vehicle for anybody. “We are building a party that will last the test of time, a party of principles and service, not a one-man show,” he said.
Obi also spoke about his recent visit to South Africa where he met with government officials and former President Thabo Mbeki over the plight of Nigerians living in the country.
Lamenting the worsening condition of Nigerians abroad, he said many citizens had lost confidence in their homeland because of insecurity, economic hardship and poor governance.
“If things were working in Nigeria the way it should, most of our people abroad would not be there,” he said. “Some of them told me that they would rather die there than go back home because things are worse in Nigeria.”
Obi lamented the fall of Nigeria’s prestige globally, recalling the country’s prominent role in peacekeeping operations around the world in the past decades.
“Nigeria used to lead United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world, but now Nigeria can’t even secure itself. That is not acceptable,” he added.
Also speaking at the dinner, former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of NDC, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, disclosed that the party had finalised plans to roll out electronic voting for its congresses and primary elections.
Dickson said the party had already developed a digital voting platform that would enable registered members to cast their votes using their mobile phones but said its deployment was delayed to allow proper testing and consultations with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We wanted to shock Nigeria with e-voting but we do not want mistakes or glitches,” he said. “By the next round of elections, every registered voter in NDC will vote with their phones,” he said.
The senator described the NDC as a movement designed to outlive the ambitions of individual politicians.
“We are building together a monumental movement that will outlive all of us. “The NDC is not a transactional vehicle for anybody,” Dickson stated.
