Peter Obi engages European Parliament, seeks stronger support for Nigeria

Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi attended sessions at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, where he held several high-level meetings with key EU committee members.

Obi confirmed the visit in a statement shared on X on Tuesday.

He said he spent the day engaging with members of different committees, including the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the Africa-EU Delegation Committee, the Committee on Transport and Tourism, and the Committee on Development.

Obi explained that the discussions focused on strengthening Europe’s relationship with Africa, especially Nigeria, which he described as a major frontier for global growth.

Obi told the European lawmakers that Africa is a continent with huge potential, being the second-largest in land size and population, with abundant natural resources and a young population.

However, he noted that the continent still represents the face of global poverty because of bad leadership and widespread corruption, a situation he said is evident in Nigeria.

He appealed to the EU to support Africa’s development by promoting good governance and strengthening democratic systems in ways that encourage the emergence of competent leaders with integrity and capacity for national transformation.

He also discussed how Europe could assist Nigeria in tackling insecurity, improving electricity generation and distribution, strengthening education and healthcare, and reducing poverty, stressing that Africa’s progress directly benefits Europe.

Obi further highlighted the need for stronger support for Nigerian youths, who he described as talented and productive but frustrated by limited opportunities at home.

He insisted that with the right support, young Nigerians could drive major economic growth. He added that both Africa and Nigeria must work for all citizens and contribute meaningfully to global development.

Full Statement reads:

Yesterday, I was in Strasbourg, France, to attend sessions at the European Parliament.
While there, I spent the day holding a series of constructive meetings with several members from various committees, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, to the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, to the Members of the Africa-EU Delegation Committee, to the Committee on Transport and Tourism, and Development, amongst others.

I appealed to them to strengthen their relationship with Africa, especially Nigeria, which stands as a key frontier for global development. Africa, as I reiterated, is a continent of immense potential, the second-largest in size and population, richly endowed with natural resources, and powered by a vast, youthful demographic. Yet it remains the face of global poverty, largely because of bad leadership and entrenched corruption, a reality clearly reflected in Nigeria.

I urged them to support the development of Africa, particularly Nigeria, by advancing good governance. This includes supporting our democratic processes in ways that promote the emergence of competent leaders with the capacity and integrity to transform our nations.

I also highlighted how they can support us in addressing insecurity, improving power generation and distribution, strengthening education and healthcare, and lifting our people out of poverty. This is necessary because our success as a nation and the success of Africa have a direct benefit to Europe.

I also underscored the need to invest in and support Nigerian youths who have an immense desire and drive for entrepreneurship and productivity, if well supported, but are now facing despair due to limited opportunities.

Africa and indeed Nigeria can and must work for all and contribute to global developments.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

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