Peter Obi Criticizes Nigeria’s Reliance on Ukraine’s Food Donation as “National Disgrace”
Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has lambasted Nigeria’s acceptance of food aid from war-torn Ukraine, labeling it a “national disgrace.”
The donation, comprising 25,000 tonnes of wheat, was offered as emergency food assistance to 1.3 million vulnerable individuals in Nigeria’s northeast, as part of Ukraine’s humanitarian initiative led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Obi expressed gratitude towards Ukraine for its assistance in alleviating hunger in Nigeria, recognizing the rare generosity displayed despite the country’s political turmoil. However, he emphasized that Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid for basic necessities reflected a failure of leadership.
In a series of tweets, Obi highlighted the stark contrast between Ukraine and Nigeria’s economic situations, pointing out that Nigeria, once economically robust and resource-rich, now depended on aid from a nation with a smaller population and landmass.
He underscored the need for urgent reflection and a reordering of national priorities, advocating for aggressive investment in agriculture and measures to address insecurity. Obi argued that these steps were crucial to reversing Nigeria’s economic downturn and fostering productivity within a few years.
Obi’s critique serves as a call to action for the Federal Government to prioritize domestic agricultural development and enhance food security, rather than relying on external assistance for sustenance.
