2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has described northern Nigeria as the greatest asset of Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Prime Time, on Arise Television, Obi stated that the north holds vast economic potential, especially in agriculture, which he believes can outperform oil revenue if properly harnessed.
“Our greatest asset is in the north. The vast uncultivated land in the north is our future. We can make more money as a country from agriculture than we make from oil, and we must begin to do that immediately,” he said
While promising to transform the northern region, Obi said he is open to working with key northern political figures, including Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano.
“I will work with them, but I can tell you that nobody can build what I intend to build in the north,” he added.
On security, Obi said addressing insecurity in the north demands tackling poverty and governance deficits.
“If we want to secure the north today, we need to start investing in critical areas of agriculture, pull people out of poverty, and invest in education and health. That is what we must do,” he said.
“Insecurity we see today is caused by erosion of governance, erosion of values, and abandoning the youths. It is the cumulative effect of leadership failure over the years,” he said.
Obi noted that Nigeria must adopt a firmer position in confronting security problems.
“We have reached a stage where we have to be very decisive. It is no longer an issue of negotiation,” he said.
“No nation will lose about 10 of its senior officers and not declare war. I will declare war.
“I have taken time to visit different countries to see first-hand what they are doing, and I see that future in the north,” he said.
