Social critic and professor of philosophy, Prutus Uzomah, on Thursday asked Nigerians to ensure that they utilize the opportunity of the 2023 general elections to “take back their country” from institutionalised corruption and bad governance.
The don at a press conference in Owerri, Imo State, said that the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had mortgaged the future of the country through borrowing from Western nations.
Uzomah enjoined Nigerians to ensure they vote for the right person as president, who would think out the modalities to repay the loans.
He said that Peter Obi of the Labour Party possessed the requisite qualities needed to reorganise the country.
The don said that he was afraid the western people whom he said had re-colonised Africa may sabotage Obi’s ambition.
He said, “The times we are in now are crucial in Nigeria’s history. This period has become epic. Nigerians have been in a cave for a long time. It is caused by global politics.
“The west has colonised us for a long period of time. They have now re-colonised Africa. Nigeria is not an industrialized nation yet. There is institutional slavery in Nigeria caused by the west. The west doesn’t want Africa to grow. They want to keep improvising in Africa the more.
“They put leaders that they want to be ruling us here in Africa. They have put Nigeria in a state of socioeconomic quagmire. The west gives Africa loans to impoverished Africa more.
“Peter Obi is today seen as Moses. He is the Messiah but I am afraid, the Obident movement may be opposed by the west. But there is time for everything. This is the time to liberate Nigeria. It is not about ethnicity or religious background but the qualities of the candidates in the race must be considered.
“We have three major candidates. One is seen as a Messiah. Among the three Nigerians should choose wisely. A man who has played role in improvising you will make sure nothing works if elected as the president.
“We have tested Atiku, Tinubu, and Obi so Nigerians should vote for the best. The popularity of Obi shows that he is the best.
It is not because he is Igbo but because of his capacity. Obi has wider reception. I feel this is the time for Nigerians to recover from institutionalised corruption. Obi has the magic wand to rearrange Nigeria. My fear still remains the west will make sure Africa doesn’t recover from political salary.
“The west will frustrate the Obident movement. They may not allow it. Nigeria has endeared global political skirmishes and this is the time to say no to the western political slavery of Nigeria. INEC should insist on a free and fair election.
“Economic power is the bedrock of political freedom. Nigeria needs to liberate itself from global political salary by electing a leader like Obi as the next president. Obi’s plan to move Nigeria from consumption to production is excellent. You can’t talk about production without industrialization.
“Buhari has mortgaged the future of Nigerians. The next president must work out modalities to pay off the monies we owe foreign nations.
“Peter Obi is my personal candidate. We have had leaders who didn’t convince us about their ideologies. I am educated enough to know how to differentiate between good and bad. Let us drift and change things. It is time to liberate Nigeria irrespective of political party affiliation.”