The Convener of Ihe Abia, Ichie Dr. Emeka Okpara, has called on leaders and citizens to use the season of the yuletide to renew their commitments to deliberate efforts towards nation building.

This call was contained in a press release issued yesterday by the media directorate of Ihe Abia and signed by Chukwuma Okoro, Director of Media and Publicity.

Okpara said that the year 2025 was a very troubling and difficult year for Nigeria and called on leaders and citizens to be very intentional in building a prosperous and stable country.

“It is very clear to all that the year 2025 witnessed an upsurge in violent crimes, economic downturn, executive recklessness, judicial rascality and political impunity. It is also clear to everyone that no country can make progress under such circumstances. What is required is shared responsibility, between a focused leadership and a followership that is ready to hold the leadership to account at all times”, Okpara said.

He singled out the widespread kidnapping, banditry and criminality that have enveloped the entire country as a sign that Nigeria is evidently on a descent and has become the laughing stock of the international community.

According to him, the re-designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the Trump administration is a blow that speaks to how low Nigeria has gone within the comity of nations.

He also said that the visa ban and recall of US Ambassador to Nigeria is another obvious sign that Nigeria is not on the path of progress.

His words: "The current administration should rally Nigerians and harness the creative and latent abilities of its youthful population to scale development and stop behaving like the people and their objections to policies perceived as bad do not matter. This should be a period of reflection and a time to renew our collective commitment to nation building. The government should review the issues around the new tax law and ensure that the wishes of the citizens as expressed through their representatives at the assembly are respected.”

Okpara used the opportunity to wish Nigerians a merry Christmas and prosperous 2026 and urged everyone to be a patriotic citizen.

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