….Says Over 60% Nigerians, Congolese Live In Poverty
KINGSLEY BENNETH, ABUJA
ABUJA : Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has told a gathering of global leaders in Athens, Greece, that to end insecurity in Africa, urgent attention must be given to enhancing security, lifting the people out of poverty, and reducing injustice and inequality in the continent.
Obi said that the security challenges bedeviling Africa are directly linked to poverty, with “over 50% of the population multidimensionally poor.”
The former Anambra State governor at the international dialogue of global leaders that includes former Presidents and top government officials, listed unemployment, corruption, poverty, and inequality among the variables militating against security and peaceful co-existence in Africa.
A statement by Ibrahim Umar, Spokesman for POMR quoted Obi as saying “I joined global leaders, former presidents, prime ministers, serving and retired senior government officials, military chiefs, renowned academics, sports personalities, and others in Athens, Greece, for a Leadership Dialogue focused on governance, particularly in the areas of security and the economy in today’s world, and the lessons for future leaders.
“In my brief presentation, I emphasized that as leaders, we must acknowledge the profound global and generational transformations confronting us. Despite vast human and material resources, there remain significant unmet needs in global governance. “
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“Urgent attention must be given to enhancing collective security, lifting people out of poverty, and reducing injustice and inequality in society.
“In Africa, we face high levels of insecurity, alarming corruption, worsening poverty, huge youth unemployment, and gross inequality. Over 50% of the world’s multidimensional poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Nigeria and Congo both have over 60% of their populations living in poverty and suffer from unacceptable levels of inequality. Non-state actors have now taken over the security in some African nations. “Furthermore, many African countries underinvest in critical areas of development, such as health and education.
“Future African leaders must take bold, accelerated, just, and transformative actions to achieve far-reaching, people-centered development.
“They must confront insecurity head-on and reassure citizens of the state’s ability to maintain security without being undermined by non-state actors.
“Corruption must be tackled with vigor. Leaders must invest in critical areas of development to improve health and education while addressing poverty, unemployment, hunger, and other pressing societal challenges.
Nigeria has all the resources needed to move in this direction, and we remain committed to placing the nation on the right path.”
