Like India, Nigeria can strive with large population, diverse languages – Peter Obi

‎Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, says Nigeria, like India can strive with its large population and diverse tribes and languages.

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‎Obi said this in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Thursday.

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‎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.

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‎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.

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‎He added that Indian electoral processes are conducted with remarkable efficiency, often recorded in real-time and largely free of glitches.

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‎“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.

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‎“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.

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‎“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.

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‎“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.

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