The National Rescue Movement’s (NRM) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Esther Okereke, has called for a national rescue driven by accountable leadership, shared prosperity and practical solutions to the hunger, insecurity and unemployment facing millions of Nigerians.
Speaking at the inauguration of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, Okereke said Nigeria needs more than another government—it needs leaders committed to improving ordinary people’s lives.
She urged political leaders to focus on sharing prosperity rather than sharing power, stressing that campaigns should be built on organisation, evidence and peaceful engagement.
Her message placed citizens’ welfare at the centre of political leadership, with an emphasis on practical improvements in everyday life.
Turning Nigeria’s Potential into Progress
In his remarks, NRM National Chairman Prince (Dr.) Chinedu Paschal Obi said Nigeria has the foundations to succeed, including a large and youthful population, extensive human capital, significant agricultural potential and a strategic location.
The challenge, he said, is building the institutions, leadership systems and accountability needed to translate those advantages into better living conditions.
Obi described social justice as a national order in which citizenship, opportunity, access to public resources and protection under the law do not depend on ethnicity, religion, social status or political connections.
He also emphasised the relationship between the rule of law and economic development. Predictable laws enable citizens to plan, credible institutions encourage investment, enforceable contracts support productivity, and accountable public officials strengthen public confidence.
Building Institutions That Deliver
Obi called for government institutions to operate through clear standards and procedures rather than the personal preferences of individual officeholders.
He said every ministry, department and agency should have defined mandates, approval responsibilities, procurement standards, financial controls, reporting requirements and measurable performance indicators. These should be supported by effective audits, service standards and consequences for breaches.
Discussing international experience, Obi said aspects of China’s approach to institutional discipline and consequences for abuse of office could offer useful points of comparison. He stressed, however, that Nigeria must develop solutions consistent with its Constitution, democratic institutions and citizens’ rights.
The goal, he said, is to build an institution-driven system that delivers consistently, regardless of who holds office.
The inauguration brought together two central messages: the need to make citizens’ welfare the purpose of political leadership, and the importance of strong, accountable institutions in delivering that promise.
