By The President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Chamber of Commerce (NiDCC) and former Edo State governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Ms. Patience Key, has called on Nigerians to stop lamenting the failures of past leaders and instead focus on strategic actions to build a better Nigeria.
Key made the statement on Wednesday in reaction to revelations from former President Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, “A Journey in Service.”
While acknowledging Babangida’s confirmation that MKO Abiola won the annulled 1993 presidential election, Key insisted that the consequences of that annulment — political instability, economic stagnation, and national disillusionment — remain fresh in Nigeria’s history.
However, she stressed that the time for outrage has passed. “We must channel our emotions into building a future where no one can annul our destiny,” she said, adding that transformation requires disciplined, coordinated action.
She urged Nigerians to reclaim political power through strategic mobilisation, funding, and supporting transformational leaders at all levels of government.
Key also emphasized the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s diaspora wealth, including over $20 billion in annual remittances, to fund political and systemic change.
Highlighting the need to end ethnic and religious manipulation, she advocated for building coalitions across tribal and religious divides. She further called for economic independence through industrialisation, investment in local businesses, and policies that prioritise Nigeria’s interests over foreign corporations and corrupt politicians.
“Nigeria cannot remain a country that consumes everything and produces nothing,” she warned.
Key urged Nigerian youth to actively participate in shaping their future and asked Nigerian professionals, entrepreneurs, and diaspora citizens to invest in Nigeria’s development. She called on the diaspora community to use their influence to demand reforms, fund political change, and invest in industries that will reduce Nigeria’s dependency on foreign aid.
“Let’s put Nigeria first — before ethnicity, religion, and every divisive narrative,” she concluded.
