Peter Obi Meets UK Officials, Diaspora Nigerians, Says Rebuilding Nigeria Is Collective Responsibility

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has met with British government officials and Nigerian diaspora stakeholders in London, calling for collective efforts to address bad leadership, corruption and lack of accountability in Nigeria.

Obi disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, October 22, following a series of engagements in the United Kingdom. He said he arrived in London from Basel, Switzerland, at about 7 a.m. on Wednesday and spent the day meeting with stakeholders.

According to the former Anambra State governor, he concluded the day with a meeting organised by the Chief of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) and the NDC Director of Diaspora Affairs, which brought together other stakeholders in London.

Obi said discussions during the engagements focused on the responsibility of Nigerians at home and abroad to rebuild the country and overcome challenges he described as obstacles to national development.

He argued that poor leadership, corruption and the absence of accountability had deprived millions of Nigerians of essential services and opportunities, including quality healthcare, education and decent employment.

The NDC presidential candidate maintained that Nigeria should be a country where citizens can succeed through hard work and merit, irrespective of their backgrounds or personal connections.

“Nigerians deserve a country where every life matters, where hard work is rewarded, and where every citizen has a fair opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or connections,” he said.

Emphasising the need for equal opportunities, Obi called for a country where people can achieve their ambitions without relying on influential connections.

“We must build a Nigeria where the child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody. A country that works for everyone, not just a privileged few,” he added.

The London engagements form part of Obi’s wider consultations with Nigerians abroad as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, Obi’s statement did not identify the British government officials he met or provide specific details of any agreements, policy proposals or commitments arising from the discussions.

He concluded his message with his familiar declaration: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”