Key opposition leader in Nigeria, Peter Obi has described as unacceptable the recently released IMF list of fastest growing economies in Africa in which the country is conspicuously absent.
Some countries in Africa such as Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Republic of Benin and Rwanda made the list released by the global financial body.
Reacting in a post he shared on his verified X handle, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party lamented that Nigeria is not on the list, citing bad governance, corruption as some reasons why the country missed out of the list.
According to him, the chosen African countries made the list by by investing in critical areas such as education, healthcare and pulling people out of poverty, areas he said the government of Nigeria has not taken as priorities.
He stressed that the countries capture in the IMF list are not richer than Nigeria in terms of human and natural resources but that Nigeria has simply failed to manage her resources for the benefit of her people.
Obi: “I have read with keen interest the recent IMF report listing Africa’s fastest-growing economies, and I cannot help but reflect on Nigeria’s absence from that list.
“These nations are not richer than us in natural resources, but they have become richer in discipline, leadership, and commitment to improving their people and their human capital.
“They are growing their economies through investing in critical areas of development education, healthcare and pulling people out of poverty, while ensuring fiscal prudence and stability.”
“We must return to the basics: production over consumption, human capital over patronage, and governance over politics.”
He explained that Nigeria has what it takes to lead other African countries if she can tackle corruption, encourage production and share the nation’s wealth equitably among her people.
“Nigeria has all it takes to not just be amongst the fastest growing economies, but to lead them. What we need is competent and compassionate leadership, one that sees governance as a call to service, not as a transaction for criminal acquisition of unearned wealth. Let us recommit ourselves to building a nation that values transparency, productivity, and shared prosperity.
“With the right leadership and collective will, Nigeria can once again become the pride of Africa. If smaller nations can grow their economy through discipline and commitment to clear policy direction, then the giant of Africa must awaken,” Obi stated.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
