Yesterday, former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, stood alongside former presidents, prime ministers, and renowned academics at the prestigious Leadership Conference in Athens, Greece. Delivering a powerful message, Mr. Obi highlighted the urgent need for today’s leaders to confront the profound changes reshaping the global landscape.
In his speech, Mr. Obi emphasized that despite the world’s vast resources, deficiencies in global governance continue to hinder progress. He called for immediate action on collective security, poverty alleviation, and the fight against injustice and inequality—values he has consistently championed throughout his career.
Addressing the unique challenges facing Africa, Mr. Obi painted a sobering picture: widespread insecurity, entrenched corruption, rampant poverty, and youth unemployment. He noted that sub-Saharan Africa accounts for over 50% of the world’s multidimensional poverty, with Nigeria and Congo shouldering much of this burden.
However, Mr. Obi also offered a message of hope, stressing that Africa’s future leaders must act decisively to drive just and transformative development. He outlined key areas for action:
Tackling Insecurity: Ensuring that states take responsibility for security, preventing non-state actors from undermining stability.
Combating Corruption: Calling for an unwavering fight against the deeply rooted issue of corruption.
Investing in Development: Prioritizing health, education, and other critical sectors to address poverty, unemployment, and hunger.
Mr. Obi expressed confidence in Nigeria’s potential to shape a new path, declaring, “A New Nigeria is Possible!” He urged Nigerians and the world to draw inspiration from his vision and commitment as the country works towards a better, more equitable future.
