The Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to move beyond historical grievances and focus on rebuilding the country through unity and mutual understanding.
Obi made the call on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, while responding to questions about the January 1966 military coup and its historical implications.
The coup, led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and other young military officers, resulted in the deaths of several political and military leaders, particularly prominent figures from Northern Nigeria.
Addressing questions about the historical episode and its relevance to contemporary Nigeria, Obi said Nigerians should not be held responsible for events that occurred when they were too young to have any involvement in them.
“You cannot hold what happened when I was barely three, four years against me. That’s in the past now,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria could not build a prosperous future by continually dwelling on divisions and conflicts inherited from previous generations.
He argued that the country needed to replace hatred with love and strengthen national unity as a foundation for development.
“But we must build the future based on love, not on hatred. So it is time to show love. It is time to show unity,” he said.
Obi said the pursuit of national unity would remain central to his presidential ambition, stressing that his proposed administration would seek to bring Nigerians together irrespective of their historical, ethnic or regional differences.
“That’s why my presidency is about unity of the country, and it’s important that people understand that,” he added.
