The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has said Nigeria has all the human and natural resources required to overcome poverty, hunger and underdevelopment, stressing that the country’s major challenge is a deficit of competent and accountable leadership.
The candidate stated this while speaking as a panellist alongside other presidential candidates and their representatives at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), held at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The discussion focused on practical strategies for rebuilding Nigeria and creating a country that works for its citizens, particularly the hardworking and resilient Nigerians who continue to bear the consequences of economic hardship.
The NDC candidate attributed the persistent levels of poverty and hunger in the country largely to years of mismanagement and corruption in the management of Nigeria’s commonwealth.
According to the candidate, Nigeria’s vast human and natural resources make widespread poverty and dependence on imported food unacceptable.
The candidate particularly identified agriculture as a major driver of economic transformation, arguing that strategic investment, sound policies and political will could enable Nigeria to achieve food self-sufficiency, create millions of jobs and become a major food exporter.
The vast agricultural potential of Northern Nigeria, the candidate noted, could play a central role in transforming the nation’s economy if properly harnessed.
The candidate also reiterated opposition to the way fuel subsidy removal was handled, maintaining the position taken during the 2023 presidential campaign that the subsidy regime was undermined by corruption.
Rather than an abrupt removal, the candidate said the preferred approach would have been to first eliminate corruption within the subsidy system, establish the actual cost of the subsidy and implement a carefully planned, phased removal.
The candidate stressed that savings from subsidy reforms should be transparently channelled into measurable development priorities, including agriculture, healthcare, education, poverty reduction and national security.
“Citizens should not bear higher energy costs while the savings remain unaccounted for or fail to improve their lives,” the candidate said.
The NDC candidate further called for greater focus on food security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, human capital development, national security and national unity as the foundation for sustainable economic growth.
The candidate maintained that Nigeria’s challenges are not insurmountable, insisting that what the country needs is competent, honest and purposeful leadership capable of placing the public interest above personal and political interests.
The candidate concluded with an optimistic message, declaring that a new Nigeria is possible and expressing confidence that the country can overcome its current challenges and prosper.
