Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25, 2023, election, Mr. Peter Obi was at a reception to mark the 247th Independence Anniversary and birthday of the United States of America, which comes up on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.
He shared the platform, put together to celebrate the memorable event, with David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires Ad Interim, Consul General Will Stevens, Embassy staff, U.S. citizens and friends of the United States.
July 4 every year is celebrated across the US and, indeed, across the world as the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence the greatest democracy in the world. It is a holiday and is marked by parades, fireworks, musical performances and other family activities.
Celebrating the program in Nigeria, Mr. Obi said on his verified Twitter account: “I joined David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires Ad Interim, Consul General Will Stevens, Embassy staff, U.S. citizens and friends of the United States at a reception to celebrate the 247th Independence Anniversary and birthday of the United States of America.
“I salute the government and citizens of the United States of America, as they honour their history, heritage and perhaps, their most cherished national holidays. “Although vastly different in age and size as democracies, the U.S. and Nigeria share certain commonalities in terms of democratic aspirations, democratic principles, and diversity.
“More fundamentally, the U.S. offers Nigeria an unfettered template of good governance modalities for a Republican nation governed not by whims of rulers, but by precepts and a creed of freedom and democracy governed by the rule of law, strong institutions and the common vision of nations governed by Constitutions founded on the will of their citizens.
As a people we Nigerians cherish the beauty of America as the hallmark of freedom and democracy. “We admire the beauty of America’s diversity and its exemplary will to be the master of its destiny. I wish the United States a happy 247th Anniversary.