Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has emphasized the potential of Nigeria’s northern region to transform the country. Speaking at a meeting of the national political consultative group (north) in Abuja, Obi highlighted the region’s vast assets and opportunities.
He criticised the poverty levels in the region, blaming the situation on a lack of investments.
“And when you have poverty, you have humanity that you cannot control because when people don’t know where the next meal will come from, you can never control their actions,” Obi stated.
“And they easily recruit,” he said, referring to bandits amid worsening insecurity. “It all rests on government to solve it.”
“I’ve always said the north can change Nigeria,” he added.
“The greatest asset of this country is the north. I have always said it; we can make more money from agriculture than we make from oil.
“The greatest asset of this country is the north. I have always said it; we can make more money from agriculture than we make from oil.
“Bangladesh is a country that lives on 148,600sq of land that is the size of two northern states: Niger at 76.3 and Borno at 70.8. equals to what?”
Obi said fixing the region’s poverty levels would have a positive impact on the fight against insecurity and touted other measures.
“The more you pull people out of poverty, the more you solve insecurity. We need to invest in education,” he added.
According to a report published on The Cable, Peter Obi remains optimistic about Nigeria’s potential for reform, emphasizing the need for strategic investments in education and poverty reduction. “The more you pull people out of poverty, the more you solve insecurity. We need to invest in education.
“We can’t talk about free universal basic education when people are not going to school. Our children are not in school.
“I’ve taken time to go to the north and sat down with the Almajiri children; they are the most brilliant people God created. If they can’t go to school, take the school to them.”
