The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has urged the Federal Government and other pertinent stakeholders to put a stop to all forms of modern day slavery.
To commemorate the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on Saturday.
The former governor of Anambra State stated as much in a statement that was uploaded on his X handle.
In addition, he believes that in order to eradicate child labour in all its forms, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking.
Also to restore the dignity of Nigerians who are in need, the government must act with greater seriousness.
Abolition Of Slavery
Obi wrote: “Today, as the global community marks the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, we join our voices against the most obnoxious act in the history of our race.
“Together we stand against any action that reduces the dignity and freedom of the human person in our nation bound in freedom, peace, and unity.
This should be our guiding tenet.
“However, it is sad that, Nigeria has continued to witness and maintain bad records of having a high number of modern-day slaves.
Both within our borders and in terms of our citizens ‘exported’ into modern day slavery.
“In addition, the constant kidnap and abduction of people by criminal elements; human trafficking and forceful exploitation of young Nigerians.
These demand that serious actions be taken by the government.
Additionally, relevant stakeholders to restore the dignity of our citizens in distress.
“Also, the Walk Free Organisation, in their 2023 Global Slavery Index report, stated that on any given day in 2021, there were 1.6 million individuals living in modern slavery in Nigeria.
Obi Calls For A New Nigeria
However, it reported that Nigeria ranked fifth out of 51 countries in Africa in terms of prevalence of modern slavery and 38 out of 160 countries globally.
“Also, a publication by Innovations for Poverty Action states that an estimated one million Nigerians are trafficked every year.
This is as Nigeria remains a major human trafficking source, hub, and destination country.
“With all these in view, the Nigerian government and all relevant stakeholders need to make more concerted efforts to completely abolish this shameful practice and societal scourge of slavery.
Also, this is the only way our country can be truly ‘bound in freedom’, as prayed in our National Anthem.
Also Read: Peter Obi Speaks On Violence Against Women In Nigeria
”Slavery, in any form, will have no place in the new Nigeria we all look forward to. Ours should be a land of dignity of all citizens.”
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