ATHENS, Greece (ChatnewsTV) — Former Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi has said that the security issues plaguing Africa are deeply rooted in poverty, with over 50% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa living in multidimensional poverty. Obi, the Labour Party candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, made these remarks over the weekend while speaking at an international leadership dialogue in Athens.
During the event, which brought together global leaders, former presidents, prime ministers, and top government officials, Obi highlighted the connection between poverty, unemployment, corruption, and insecurity in Africa. “In Africa, we face high levels of insecurity, alarming corruption, worsening poverty, huge youth unemployment, and gross inequality,” Obi stated. “Non-state actors have now taken over security in some African nations.”
The former Governor of Anambra State further stressed that Sub-Saharan Africa is home to more than half of the world’s multidimensionally poor, with Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo seeing over 60% of their populations living in poverty.
“Urgent attention must be given to enhancing collective security, lifting people out of poverty, and reducing injustice and inequality in society,” Obi said. He warned that without addressing these systemic issues, African nations will continue to struggle with instability and insecurity.
Obi also criticized African countries for underinvesting in crucial sectors such as health and education. “Many African countries underinvest in critical areas of development,” he noted, pointing out that future leaders must focus on transforming these sectors if the continent is to achieve sustainable development.
Calling for bold leadership, Obi said, “Future African leaders must take bold, accelerated, just, and transformative actions to achieve far-reaching, people-centered development.” He emphasized the need for leaders to address insecurity directly, reduce poverty, tackle corruption, and invest in human capital development.
He concluded his address with optimism for Nigeria’s future: “Nigeria has all the resources needed to move in this direction, and we remain committed to placing the nation on the right path. A New Nigeria is possible.”
The Athens dialogue brought together key global figures to discuss governance challenges, particularly in security and the economy, with a focus on lessons for future leaders.
