Afrigather The candidate of the Labour Get together (LP) within the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has lambasted the Nigerian authorities over the donation of 25,000 metric tonnes of wheat by war-torn Ukraine.
SaharaReporters on Friday reported that 25,000 metric tonnes of wheat had been supplied by the war-torn Ukrainian Authorities to help the World Meals Programme (WFP) in offering emergency meals help to 1.3 million crisis-affected folks in North-East Nigeria.
It was learnt that the donation was a part of the humanitarian “Grain from Ukraine” initiative launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The WFP Consultant and Nation Director in Nigeria, David Stevenson, whereas receiving the grains on Thursday in Abuja, mentioned the cargo was made attainable with collaborative efforts from Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the UK, which supplied the prices of transporting the wheat from Ukraine to Nigeria.
Reacting, Obi mentioned that such a gesture from a rustic that slightly wants humanitarian help on account of the impact of the continuing warfare with Russia, is disheartening and a nationwide shame to Nigeria which is formally at peace.
Whereas applauding Ukraine for the type gesture, Obi mentioned {that a} war-torn nation donating meals to Nigeria underscores vigorously the significance of sound political management as the primary concrete requirement for any nation wanting to develop and improve the usual of residing of its citizenry, stressing that the nationwide shame stems from years of management failure in Nigeria.
Obi in a sequence of posts on his X deal with mentioned, “Let me start by sincerely appreciating the war-torn nation of Ukraine for his or her beneficiant donation of tons of grains to Nigeria thereby aiding our present battle in opposition to nationwide starvation.
“As laudable as Ukraine’s sort gesture is, it speaks volumes for us as a folks endowed with all wanted human and pure assets, {that a} nation formally prosecuting a brutal warfare of nationwide survival with its highly effective neighbor, Russia, is beneficiant and sort sufficient with their meals provides to assist us who’re formally at peace.
“For the folks of Ukraine, this act of human solidarity testifies to a uncommon generosity of spirit which ought to earn them better world solidarity. It demonstrates our shared humanity.
“Nonetheless, a scenario like this underscores vigorously the significance of sound political management as the primary concrete requirement for any nation wanting to develop and improve the usual of residing of its citizenry.
“It’s disheartening that our as soon as economically assured nation, blessed with huge arable land and plentiful pure assets, now depends on a war-torn Ukraine for meals help.
“This nationwide shame stems from years of management failure, necessitating pressing reflection and a reordering of our nationwide priorities and useful resource administration and allocation.
“Instructively, Ukraine, with a inhabitants of 43 million on 603,728 km2, outshines Northern Nigeria, overlaying 744,249 km2 with a younger, energetic inhabitants exceeding 100 million.”
The previous governor of Anambra State in Southeast Nigeria continued, “In 2015, Ukraine’s GDP per capita was $2125, in comparison with Nigeria’s $2680. By 2022, regardless of being at warfare, Ukraine’s GDP per capita exceeded $4000, whereas Nigeria’s regressed to $2184. Ukraine cultivates over 60% of its arable land, whereas Nigeria has over 60% uncultivated arable land.
“Regardless of the battle, Ukraine feeds itself, and exports agricultural merchandise value over $ 25 billion which is about the identical worth as our crude oil export earnings, and it serves as a strategic world meals provider, even offering support to a peaceable but unproductive Nigeria.
“To beat this embarrassment, we should aggressively reorder our priorities by investing assets in productive sectors like agriculture.
“Addressing insecurity is essential for farmers to return to their fields, enabling a productive manufacturing sector and supporting small companies.
“In 4 to five years, this concerted effort can reverse the present development, main us towards a productive and New Nigeria that I consider is feasible and inside attain.”
