Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, says no other contender can match his plans for transforming northern Nigeria, particularly through agriculture and decisive security reforms.
Obi spoke on Monday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, where he emphasised the economic and strategic importance of the region to Nigeria’s future.
“But I can tell you, Charles… nobody will build or do what I intend to do in the north. I’ll change the north. Our greatest asset is in the north,” he said.
The former Anambra governor described the vast uncultivated land in the region as Nigeria’s biggest opportunity, arguing that the country could generate more revenue from agriculture than oil if properly harnessed.
“We can make more money as a country from agriculture than we make from oil. And that we have to start doing immediately,” he said.
The presidential hopeful added that addressing insecurity in the region would require tackling its root causes, including poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to education and healthcare.
“If we want to secure the north today, we need to start investing in those critical areas — agriculture, pulling people out of poverty, investing in education, investing in health,” Obi said.
On security, Obi called for a more decisive approach, noting that Nigeria has reached a stage where firm action is necessary.
“When it comes to issue of security… we have to be very decisive. No longer issue of negotiation,” he said.
He cited his experience as governor of Anambra State, recalling how he confronted rising insecurity by working closely with federal authorities and security agencies.
According to him, the measures led to a significant reduction in crime, with police authorities at the time reportedly noting the absence of major robbery or kidnapping incidents in the state for several years.
Obi, however, acknowledged that insecurity cannot be eliminated entirely but insisted it can be substantially reduced through strong leadership, justice, and sustained investment in social development.
He attributed the current security challenges to years of governance failure, erosion of values, and neglect of young people.
“What you’re seeing is the cumulative effect of leadership failure over the years,” he said, adding that rebuilding trust and enforcing accountability are critical to long-term stability.
