By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Former Anambra State Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP in the 2019 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on Nigerian leaders at all levels of government to pause and ponder as the World celebrates the 2021 Children’s Day.
He made the call on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in a chat with the press after delivering a keynote address at the Aba Business Leadership Summit which held at the Aba Sports Club, Aba, Abia State.
Obi said his popular statement, ‘The society we abuse today will take its revenge on our children tomorrow’, was borne out of the negligence of children by politicians who do not think about tomorrow.
He reiterated that nations grow by deliberate training of children, and not by “recklessness and extravagance.”
The ex-Governor said it was because of the thought of the future of Anambra children and his passion to bequeath them a sustainable state that he saved over N75 billion for the state before his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the state elapsed.
Obi stressed that he left no debt burden for children in the state and did all he could to improve its educational infrastructure.
He advised those in the helm of affairs to take the opportunity of this year’s children’s day to think deeply about them and their welfare and put more measures in place to check child abuse.
Speaking further, he urged the government to address the sorry plight of retirees and senior citizens who he said also fall under the category of children.
“Because they have passed their productive age, they now depend on their pensions and gratuities to survive.
“I do not know what it is now, but as Governor, I cleared arrears of pension and gratuities owed workers to the tune of over N35 Billion.
“I urge everybody concerned to treat these people with reverential care and love,’ Obi said.
While wishing all children well, he urged them to always open their minds to learning good and beautiful ideas that will shape their future.