“Hope is not a passive wish, but an active commitment to renewal and change.”

By Kennedy Kanma

Let me begin by extending my heartfelt greetings and good wishes to the people of Delta North Senatorial District, and Nigerians everywhere, as we celebrate the joy of Christmas. As Christians, at this time every year, we are reminded of the enduring values that bind us together: love, compassion, justice, shared responsibility and unity. As we know, Christmas is not an ordinary season; it is a sacred moment for reflection, gratitude and hope for a better tomorrow.

This year, and this is very important, we have witnessed both challenges and resilience in extraordinary ways. However, as we grapple with a declining standard of living, the menace of banditry and terrorism, and a host of deep-seated economic and social challenges, it is evident that these crises ultimately boil down to the question of leadership. As the saying goes, leadership is everything. Unfortunately, a general sense of hopelessness appears to have settled over our countrymen and women as social pressures have continued to mount in recent years. In the midst of these challenges, the pressing question remains: where do we go from here, and how do we chart a path towards hope, revival, progress and collective renewal?

Nevertheless, I am inspired daily by the strength, creativity, generosity and courage of our people. Your commitment to fairness and progress continues to guide my activities, programmes and determination to make a difference in the lives of our people, both now and in the near future.

As we look ahead, let us renew our dedication to building a better society, one where opportunity is shared, diversity respected, strength not taken for granted, and no one is left behind. I strongly believe that together, we can strengthen our communities, protect our collective future, rescue our people from despair and create hope for the next generation.

When all is said and done, politics remains the ultimate determinant of progressive change in every country. After all, it is only through a fair and credible political process that we can elect leaders who are not merely in office but are capable of advancing the common good. This is why we consistently assert that politics holds greater significance than economics in shaping the destiny of any society.

As an election year approaches, we must pause to ask ourselves where we truly stand and what each of us, as crucial participants in this society, is actively doing to ensure that we elect our best representatives rather than settling for the worst. Yes, men and women we can trust to represent our interests fairly, whether we are poor or rich, able-bodied or living with disabilities, young or old, male or female, united by the belief that everyone deserves dignity, justice and better representation.

Can we honestly say that we are satisfied with the quality of representation today, especially in our area? What about the level of accountability, vision and service being rendered in our parliaments, where laws are made and oversight is exercised? For some time now, I have made the issue of representation a major focus of my engagements, and for good reason. Truth be told, we have witnessed a troubling decline in the character and bearing of those who represent us in Delta North, largely due to the pervasive influence of transactional and identity politics. This moment, however, presents an opportunity to change that narrative and reclaim our rightful place from those who govern without the genuine interests of our people at heart. Leadership must once again reflect the values, shared vision, aspirations and welfare of the communities we serve.

As the saying goes, a week is a long time in politics, yet I am convinced that there could not be a more crucial moment to take a stand. For many of us in the Obedient Movement, we are fully aware of our responsibilities, our destination and the formidable struggle that lies ahead. While we thank God that the political process remains fluid despite the politics of intimidation, we must not take chances, as time is of the essence. We must now take deliberate steps to forge cooperation and the necessary alignments across every corner of our district to ensure that our collective vision is realised.

The truth, and this is unquestionable, is that the hope and renewal we seek can only be achieved through collective effort. In the 2023 general elections, we proved the sceptics wrong by making a historic leap under the banner of the Labour Party across polling units nationwide. As a new and underestimated movement, we took the country by storm in a remarkable way. As we look ahead to 2027, we must reignite and sustain that momentum if we truly hope to change Nigeria for the better. We have done it before, and with the same unity, determination and belief in our collective strength, we can do it again.

At the very heart of this Christmas message lies the urgent need for change, for a better society and for the next generation.

May this Christmas bring peace to our homes, warmth to our hearts, the strength to make the right choices, and a renewed faith in what we can achieve together as a people.

Thank you for the trust you place in me.

Kennedy Kanma, a lawyer and entrepreneur, writes from Abuja.