Following unfortunate development about skyrocketed prices of food, all basic needs of life and economic hardship threatening standard of living of Nigerians, the government of Ukraine recently donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat as emergency food assistance to 1.3 million vulnerables, crisis-affected people in Nigeria’s northeastern region, a development which Mr Peter Obi described as an unfortunate and disheartening.
While lamenting on the development, Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the last election says the donation speaks volumes, signaling irresponsible and failures of the nation to cater for its people.
Throwing the bombshell on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Peter Obi affirmed that this development stamped the national disgrace that “stems from years of leadership failure, requiring urgent reflection and a prioritising our national requirements, resources management and allocation”.
According to Obi, this act of human solidarity testifies to a rare generosity of spirit of the people of Ukraine, one which obi says should earn them greater global solidarity.
Meanwhile, the former Anambra State Governor reiterated that a situation like this emphasizes need responsible and sound political leadership as the first concrete requirement for any nation willing to develop and enhance the standard of living of its citizenry.
From his point of view, it is heartbreaking that Nigeria which was once an economically confident nation, blessed with numerous natural resources and vast arable land, has now relies on a war-torn Ukraine for food assistance.
Hereunder is the LP presidential candidate’s full address on Nigeria receiving aid in the form of food, from Ukraine.
UKRAINE DONATES FOOD TO NIGERIA.
Let me begin by sincerely appreciating the war-torn nation of Ukraine for their generous donation of tons of grains to Nigeria thereby aiding our current fight against nationwide hunger.
As laudable as Ukraine’s kind gesture is, it speaks volumes for us as a people endowed with all needed human and natural resources, that a country officially prosecuting a brutal war of national survival with its powerful neighbour, Russia, is generous and kind enough with their food supplies to help us who are officially at peace.
For the people of Ukraine, this act of human solidarity testifies to a rare generosity of spirit which should earn them greater global solidarity. It demonstrates our shared humanity.
However, a situation like this underscores vigorously the importance of sound political leadership as the first concrete requirement for any nation desiring to develop and enhance the standard of living of its citizenry.
It is disheartening that our once economically confident nation, blessed with vast arable land and abundant natural resources, now relies on a war-torn Ukraine for food assistance.
This national disgrace stems from years of leadership failure, necessitating urgent reflection and a reordering of our national priorities and resource management and allocation. Instructively, Ukraine, with a population of 43 million on 603,728 km2, outshines Northern Nigeria, covering 744,249 km2 with a young, energetic population exceeding 100 million.
In 2015, Ukraine’s GDP per capita was $2125, compared to Nigeria’s $2680. By 2022, despite being at war, Ukraine’s GDP per capita exceeded $4000, while Nigeria’s regressed to $2184. Ukraine cultivates over 60% of its arable land, whereas Nigeria has over 60% uncultivated arable land.
Despite the conflict, Ukraine feeds itself, and exports agricultural products worth over $ 25 billion which is about the same value as our crude oil export earnings, and it serves as a strategic global food supplier, even providing aid to a peaceful yet unproductive Nigeria.
To overcome this embarrassment, we must aggressively reorder our priorities by investing resources in productive sectors like agriculture. Addressing insecurity is crucial for farmers to return to their fields, enabling a productive manufacturing sector and supporting small businesses.
In 4 to 5 years, this concerted effort can reverse the current trend, leading us toward a productive and New Nigeria that I believe is possible and within reach
