1966 coup: Peter Obi preaches unity, forgiveness for Nigeria’s future

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to move beyond historical grievances and past conflicts, saying the country’s future must be built on love, unity and collective understanding.

Obi made the call on Thursday while responding to questions during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he addressed issues surrounding Nigeria’s history and the continued impact of past political and military events on national relationships.

Obi speaks on 1966 coup

The former Anambra State governor was responding to questions about the 1966 military coup, which led to the deaths of several political and military leaders, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

The coup, led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and other young military officers, remains one of the major events in Nigeria’s political history and has continued to feature in discussions about the country’s political divisions and ethnic tensions.

Obi, however, said Nigerians should not allow events that occurred decades ago to determine their relationships or prevent them from working together to build a better country.

“You cannot hold what happened when I was barely three, four years against me. That’s in the past now,” he said.

‘We must build the future based on love’

The NDC presidential candidate stressed that while Nigeria’s history should not be forgotten, the country must focus more on finding ways to overcome divisions and create a shared future.

He called for an approach based on love rather than hatred, urging Nigerians to embrace unity despite the grievances and disagreements that have characterised the country’s history.

“But we must build the future based on love, not on hatred. So it is time to show love. It is time to show unity,” Obi said.

According to him, Nigeria’s continued development requires citizens to look beyond historical differences and work towards a common national purpose.

Obi says presidency will prioritise unity

Obi also linked his position on national reconciliation to his political ambition, saying unity would be a central focus of his administration if elected president.

“That’s why my presidency is about unity of the country, and it’s important that people understand that,” he said.

He maintained that Nigerians should be more concerned about building a country where citizens can live and work together peacefully than about perpetuating divisions arising from events of the past.

His comments come amid continuing debates over Nigeria’s political history, ethnic relations and the need for greater national cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.