Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, says Nigeria, like India can strive with its large population and diverse tribes and languages.
Obi said this in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Thursday.
He said despite a landmass nearly three and a half times larger than Nigeria and being home to many religions and cultures, India has evolved into a global benchmark for democracy.
According to him, with a population exceeding one billion people and close to one billion registered voters, of whom about 700 million typically participate in elections, India has established a system widely regarded as free, fair, and credible.
He added that Indian electoral processes are conducted with remarkable efficiency, often recorded in real-time and largely free of glitches.
“Nigeria is not the only nation shaped by a mosaic of tribes, languages, and religions. Around the world, several countries with similar diversity are striving—often successfully—to turn it into a source of strength rather than division. India serves as a classic example.
“These achievements are not accidental; they result from deliberate efforts to strengthen the centripetal forces—those elements that bind a nation together—rather than amplify the centrifugal impulses of division that continue to challenge us.
“When I advocate for the unity of Nigeria, I do so with deep sincerity and conviction. Our cohesion is an indispensable foundation for peaceful coexistence, sustainable development, and enduring national stability.
“I urge my fellow Nigerians to reflect on the example of India—a nation with a far larger population and an even more intricate web of ethnic and religious diversity—yet one that continues to forge unity from complexity,” he wrote.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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