Prof Pat Utomi, a presidential candidate in the 2011election, on Sunday said that 2012 would be a time for true statesmen to stand up to save the country from the brink of collapse.
Utomi stood for election under the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP).
He said to reporters in Lagos that the challenges facing the nation called for concerted effort.
“2012 is a time for men and women of goodwill to take the destiny of the Nigerian nation in their hands and mold it into what they want it to be,’’ Utomi said.
He said that it was time for statesmen to think less of their comfort zone, but more of how to save the nation from the brink of collapse.
“Nigeria has a critical place in black Africa; that pride of place will not be lost,’’ Utomi said.
He urged governments at all levels to speak more with their actions in 2012.
According to him, there is need for Nigerian leadership to construct an economy in 2012 that will grow up to its potential.
He warned that Nigeria was in grave danger and if there was no responsive leadership, there could be anarchy in the land.
Meanwhile, in a 2012 goodwill message, the Presidential Candidate of the Citizens Popular Party (CPP) in 2007, Chief Maxi Okwu, urged Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the Nigeria enterprise.
“I urge the citizenry to exhibit greater vigilance. The New Year is yet another opportunity to be patriotic in our service to the nation and humanity,’’ Okwu said.
According to him, 2012 is the time to build a strong, virile and prosperous democratic nation that every Nigerian will be proud of.?