By BONIFACE AKARAH

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has lamented the “unprecedented economic hardship” weighing on many Nigerian families and urged citizens and leaders to renew their resolve to build “a Nigeria where dignity is not a luxury but a right,” in a Christmas message posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, December 25, 2025.

“As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, I extend warm Christmas greetings to all Nigerians,” Obi wrote, adding that the season “calls us to reflect on the values of love, sacrifice, humility, and hope—values that are deeply needed in our nation today.”

Obi — a leading figure in the Labour Party and a prominent national voice since his 2023 presidential run — said the holiday comes “at a time when many Nigerians are burdened by unprecedented economic hardship,” and expressed pain at “the daily struggles of countless families who find it increasingly difficult to put food on the table.”

He urged leaders to measure success by how they uplift the most vulnerable, not by “the height of our skyscrapers or the growth of our stock markets,” and pledged a commitment to “a future where dignity is not a luxury but a right; where opportunity reaches the remotest village and the most crowded street.”

The former presidential hopeful framed Christmas as a call to solidarity, praising neighbours and communities that share what little they have and urging Nigerians to renew efforts to ensure every child has access to quality education, healthcare and a dignified life. “The spirit of Christmas is found in solidarity,” he wrote.

Obi asked that the season inspire selfless leadership and prudent management of public resources, saying such stewardship is essential to pull citizens out of poverty and create “the Nigeria of our dreams.” He closed the message with a customary wish for a joyful Christmas and a hopeful new year, ending on his familiar note: “Indeed, a new Nigeria is POssible.”

The message was widely shared on social platforms and republished by several news outlets covering political figures’ festive messages.

Update news