Obi added that the only way to address permanently the effects of poverty and insecurity in Northern Nigeria was through agriculture and industrial revolution.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, has said that Nigeria has nothing to do with poverty "if political leaders, including my humble self, had decided to serve the country faithfully."
Obi added that the only way to address permanently the effects of poverty and insecurity in Northern Nigeria was through agriculture and industrial revolution.
Calling on everyone to join hand with the government to address the current economic situation, Obi explained that present socio-economic instability in the country required leaders and citizens to close ranks.
According to Guardian, the former Anambra State Governor, spoke during a visit to the Emir of Zazzau in Kaduna State, Nuhu Bamali, as part of his ongoing tour of the North.
Lamenting that most of the vast arable lands in the North were uncultivated, the Labour Party chieftain, regretted that most of the industries in the region had gone moribond like in other parts of the country because of lack of political will and inconsistent government policies.
He was quoted to have said: “The way things are in our country today requires that all of us must get involved in one way or another. Nigeria has nothing to do with poverty, if political leaders, including my humble self, had decided to serve the country faithfully.
"If we do, Nigeria will have nothing to do with poverty. I will always say this anytime I have the opportunity because Nigeria is one of the countries in the world that is blessed with everything that is required."
He added: “Looking at the North, we can make more money from agriculture than we are making from oil. We have vast uncultivated land in the North, which can help pull people out of poverty, provide food for Nigeria, provide raw materials for industrialisation, and support export.
“We need to invest in the North. Insecurity is driven by poverty. The more you pull people out of poverty, the more you reduce insecurity.”
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