By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian youths to channel their passion for European football into active participation in the struggle for good governance and national development.
Obi, in a post on his verified X handle on Saturday, said the quality and organisation Nigerians admire in European football should inspire citizens to demand similar standards in Nigeria.
He argued that Nigeria’s problem was not a lack of talent, noting that the country had produced world-class footballers who excelled abroad because they operated in systems that rewarded merit, provided infrastructure and promoted competence and accountability.
“Why can’t Nigerian football be just as good?” Obi asked, stressing that “the answer is not a lack of talent.”
According to him, the success of football in Europe is linked to broader systems of governance that provide functional infrastructure, security, healthcare, transportation, electricity and institutions capable of supporting sporting development.
“Great football does not exist in isolation. It grows where there is good governance,” he said.
Obi said Nigeria had the human resources and sporting talent required to develop a globally competitive football industry but lacked the leadership needed to create an enabling environment.
He said a properly managed Nigerian football league could attract large crowds, sponsorship and investment, while improved coaching, stadiums and academies could provide young players with opportunities to build successful careers at home.
“Imagine a Nigeria where our local league is competitive, our stadiums are full every weekend, our clubs attract sponsorship, our coaches receive proper training, and young footballers no longer see emigration as their only path to success,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor linked the development of football and other sectors of the economy to the choices Nigerians make at the ballot box.
He said he had resolved to engage Nigerian youths over the next 150 days in town halls, campuses, online platforms and football communities as part of his campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“My message is simple: The future you admire in Europe can be built in Nigeria. But it starts with your vote,” Obi stated.
He urged youths to recognise that the 2027 election would provide an opportunity to determine the kind of country they wanted to live in.
According to him, Nigerian youths should consider elections as important as the football matches they regularly watch and passionately support.
“Nigeria will not emerge through wishful thinking. It will emerge when young Nigerians decide that elections matter as much as football matches,” he said.
Obi encouraged Nigerians to continue supporting their favourite European clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and AC Milan.
However, he urged football enthusiasts to remember their responsibility to Nigeria after the final whistle of every match.
“Enjoy every match. But when the final whistle blows, remember that the greatest match awaiting Nigerian youths is not in Europe. It is in Nigeria,” he said.
He described the 2027 presidential election as “more than a political contest,” saying it represented an opportunity for Nigerians to choose between a country that loses its talent to migration and one capable of creating conditions for its citizens to thrive at home.
Obi said the challenge before Nigerians included creating jobs, improving security, strengthening education, developing sports and achieving national renewal.
“It is the match for good governance. It is the match for jobs, security, education, sports development, and national renewal,” he said.
The NDC candidate also called on young Nigerians to participate actively in the electoral process by mobilising voters, casting their ballots and protecting their votes.
“Stand up. Mobilise. Vote. Defend your vote,” he urged.
Obi maintained that the same determination Nigerian youths demonstrate while following European football could be redirected towards building a better Nigeria.
“If Nigerian youths can passionately follow European football every weekend, they can also passionately build a Nigeria where our own football—and our nation—becomes a source of pride,” he said.
He further described the development of Nigerian football as a reflection of the broader need for effective governance, insisting that functional systems and accountable leadership could unlock the country’s enormous potential.
“The journey towards better Nigerian football begins with the path to good governance. And the path to good governance begins with the decision of Nigerian youths to stand up and be counted in 2027,” Obi stated.
He promised to continue using his weekly engagements with young Nigerians to draw attention to the January 16, 2027 presidential election and the country’s future.
“We can create world-class standards right here at home,” he said, concluding that building a new Nigeria was ultimately in the hands of its citizens.
