Many people have aired various opinions over the donation of grains by Ukraine to Nigeria, but for the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, such donation is disheartening.
Perhaps, Obi has heard of the popular saying that ‘it is only a fool that will be in a river and allow soap to enter his eyes’.
That is why in a series of posts via his official X handle on Monday, Obi said Nigeria, blessed with vast arable land and abundant natural resources, now relies on a war-torn Ukraine for food assistance.
He said the gesture was a national disgrace that stems from years of leadership failure.
According to Obi, this needs an urgent reordering of national priorities, resource management and allocation.
Reordering Priorities
Obi called on the federal government to aggressively reorder its priorities.
According to him, this could be done by investing resources in productive sectors like agriculture, addressing insecurity, enabling a productive manufacturing sector and supporting small businesses.
He wrote: “Let me begin by sincerely appreciating the war-torn nation of Ukraine for their generous donation of tons of grains to Nigeria, thereby aiding our current fight against nationwide hunger.
“As laudable as Ukraine’s kind gesture is, it speaks volumes for us as a people endowed with all needed human and natural resources.
“That a country officially prosecuting a brutal war of national survival with its powerful neighbour, Russia, is generous and kind enough with their food supplies to help us who are officially at peace.
Global Solidarity
“For the people of Ukraine, this act of human solidarity testifies to a rare generosity of spirit which should earn them greater global solidarity.
“It demonstrates our shared humanity.
“However, a situation like this underscores vigorously the importance of sound political leadership.
“This is the first concrete requirement for any nation desiring to develop and enhance the standard of living of its citizenry.
“It is disheartening that our once economically confident nation, blessed with vast arable land and abundant natural resources, now relies on a war-torn Ukraine for food assistance.
National Disgrace
“This national disgrace stems from years of leadership failure.
“It necessitates urgent reflection and a reordering of our national priorities and resource management and allocation.
“Instructively, Ukraine, with a population of 43 million on 603,728 km2, outshines Northern Nigeria, covering 744,249 km2 with a young, energetic population exceeding 100 million.
“In 2015, Ukraine’s GDP per capita was $2125, compared to Nigeria’s $2680.
By 2022, despite being at war, Ukraine’s GDP per capita exceeded $4000, while Nigeria’s regressed to $2184.
Strategic Food Supplier
“Ukraine cultivates over 60% of its arable land, whereas Nigeria has over 60% uncultivated arable land.
“Despite the conflict, Ukraine feeds itself, and exports agricultural products worth over $25 billion which is about the same value as our crude oil export earnings.
“It also serves as a strategic global food supplier, even providing aid to a peaceful yet unproductive Nigeria.
“To overcome this embarrassment, we must aggressively reorder our priorities by investing resources in productive sectors like agriculture.
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“Addressing insecurity is crucial for farmers to return to their fields, enabling a productive manufacturing sector and supporting small businesses.
“In 4 to 5 years, this concerted effort can reverse the current trend, leading us toward a productive and New Nigeria that I believe is possible and within reach”.
