The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has identified Nigeria’s northern region as the nation’s most valuable resource for economic transformation.
Speaking at the National Political Consultative Group (North) meeting in Abuja on Sunday, the former Anambra governor highlighted the region’s untapped potential while decrying its current underdevelopment.
“The greatest asset of this country is the North. I’ve always said it. The North can change Nigeria,” Obi declared to the gathering of northern leaders and stakeholders.
Obi pinpointed agriculture as the region’s game-changing sector, noting its capacity to outperform oil revenue if properly harnessed. He presented a stark comparison of Nigeria’s rice production with smaller nations, stating: “This entire country produces less than six million tonnes of rice. That’s less than 10 percent of what Bangladesh produces. Bangladesh has just 148,600 square kilometers—about the size of Niger and Borno states combined.”
The former governor directly linked northern poverty to the escalating security crisis, explaining that economic desperation fuels criminal recruitment. “When people don’t know where their next meal will come from, you can never control their actions. That’s why banditry thrives. It all rests on the government to solve it,” he analyzed.
Obi proposed a dual solution focusing on education and agricultural development. He emphasized: “The more you pull people out of poverty, the more you solve insecurity. We need to invest in education.” Sharing personal experiences, he added: “I’ve sat with Almajiri children—they are some of the most brilliant minds God created. If they can’t go to school, take the school to them.”
The presidential candidate’s remarks come amid growing national discourse about regional development disparities. His specific call for northern-focused investment marks a strategic approach to national transformation, recognizing the region’s vast arable land and demographic advantage.
Despite current challenges, Obi expressed optimism about Nigeria’s prospects: “There’s a lot of work to be done, but I believe Nigeria can be turned around.” The statement reinforces his continued political engagement following the 2023 elections, positioning himself as a advocate for holistic national development.
The event, attended by northern political, traditional and religious leaders, served as a platform for Obi to articulate his vision for leveraging the region’s potential to drive Nigeria’s economic transformation. His emphasis on education and agriculture as twin solutions to insecurity and poverty reflects growing consensus among development experts about the need for targeted interventions in the North.