The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to deploy their abundant natural resources and talents to shade off the slave trade effect.
Obi, who spoke at the weekend in England as a guest at the celebration of Black History Month by the black community at Oxford University, said the time has come for Africa and the black community to engage in productive activities, good governance, and purposeful leadership.
Obi, who shared ideas with the black community reminded them that life, irrespective of color, race, or tribe, should be about building a better society and making humanity better recalling this was what motivated him to enter politics.
He noted that he joined politics leaving his lucrative business to serve the public not minding the huge loss available.
The former governor of Anambra State said: “I relayed to them my experience in 2001 while taking an Executive Management Course at Kellogg School of Management, a personal encounter I had with Prof Donald Jacobs, the School Dean, which eventually motivated me to join politics back home in Nigeria, to help build a better nation for all.
“Looking back in time, not minding the bold challenges I have faced, I am grateful for all I have accomplished, especially the positive changes I have engendered in the nation.
Especially in the areas of health, education, and pulling people out of poverty.”
He stated that Africa needs to invest heavily in Education and utilize its energetic youth populations.
Obi said: “Africa should not be attending the summit asking for concessions, pointing out that the era of tokenism for Africa has passed.
“Africa with a landmass of 30.3 million km² and a population of over 1.4 billion people, continues to fall short, economically, far below Europe, with a landmass of 10.18 million km² and a population of about 746 million.
“Africa will rise and enjoy development and progress.”
He noted that the three biggest economies in Europe, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France with a population of about 216m have a GDP almost 25 times the GDP of Nigeria with an almost similar population.
“Germany has $ 4.4 trillion with a land mass of 349, 223km, plus a population of about 84m and France has a GDP of $3.049 and 551695km land mass, plus a population of about 54m the UK has a GDP of $3.3.., and a land mass of 243,610km with a population of about 67m while Nigeria has a land mass of 923 769km and a GDP of $489.80 billion,” Obi added.
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