Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi has assured that Nigeria will be able to produce enough to feed itself and export if he is elected as the next President of the country.
Obi who addressed mammoth crowd of party supporters at the Old Parade Ground Abuja on Thursday during the Presidential campaign rally said that what he is promising Nigerian youths is that they will able to get jobs and be proud of their country if he is elected.
The former Anambra State governor lamented the high poverty and unemployment indices in the country and pledged that he is coming to turn it around. He said the Nigeria will not only be able to feed itself but also able to export food to neighbouring countries.
He said that he will exploit the rich arable land in the north and turn the country from consumption to production.
Obi said that insecurity can only fester in a country due to lack of leadership.
He said, “What LP is offering you is simple, we are offering you security of lives and properties. We will fight insecurity. Forget insecurity, the thieves and the criminals are not more formidable, except if there is no leadership. We will ensure that we untie Nigeria. We will ensure that no Nigerians after five years, weather from the north or from the south will be proud of your country because your country will move from consumption to production.
“Today your country is not producing anything. Today, we have 36% unemployment to tell you how bad it is in your country”.
Obi decried the high poverty and unemployment rates but pledged to revere the trend.
“In 2012, the number of Nigerian that are on the absolute poverty bracket is 65m, today it is 95. Unemployment was 16 percent, today it is 35 percent. Everything has turned upside down, that is what we want to reverse.
“We have high level of unemployment, we will employ our youths, we will make hem productive.
“We have vast land in the north where our youths will be engaged and they will be productive. Nigeria will feed itself, Nigeria will be a great nation again. We don’t want excuses again. That is what Datti and I are offering you. Join us, support us to build a new Nigeria” Obi appealed to his supporters.
He reminded the youth that the election is the opportunity for them to take back their country.
“You are the one running this election. You are the one contesting this election through us. We are only representing you. We want things to change”.