The Vice Presidential candidate under the platform of opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 elections, Peter Obi, has said that the number of the poor people in Nigeria is more than the poor in China and India combined.
Obi spoke at The Platform, an annual talk-shop organized by the Covenant Center, Iganmu, every Independence day. Many prominent politicians, including the Vice president Yemi Osinbajo, had graced the platform in the past. Obi is also a regular visitor.
“Today, Nigeria is home to the highest number of poor people living in any nation on earth,” he said.
“If you look at the latest report of UNDP, it says Nigeria has moved from 86 million to 98 million persons living in extreme poverty. We are growing at five percent annually. Every minute, six Nigerians fall into poverty.
“In 2012, India had 276 million people living in extreme poverty. Today, they have less than 76. Nigeria has more people living in extreme poverty than China and India combined.”
Using the “stress Index” to substantiate his claim, Obi said that Nigeria is the most stressed country on earth.
“Today, we are the most stressful country. If you read the stress index, they said we are the most stressful.”
On insecurity, he described Nigeria as the third most insecure country in the world.
“Nigeria is now the third most insecure place to live on the surface of the earth. We are now behind Afghanistan and Syria, and with daily killings, banditry and kidnappings, it is being speculated that Nigeria will soon overtake them.
“Our under-employment and unemployment is one of the worst in the world. People will tell you it is about 25 percent, it is actually over 30 percent. And with over 22 million young people in their productive age doing nothing, it is very worrisome.
“If you come to inequality, Nigeria’s inequality today is the worst; 157/157. We are the worst if you look at the oxfam report. In Nigeria, the richest on percent control 85 percent of the wealth. All other countries are working hard to lower this, in Nigeria it is even worsening.”
