Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, has called for stronger partnerships between Europe and Africa to promote good governance, democracy and economic development.
Obi made the call in a post on his X account on Tuesday after a series of meetings with Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
He said the engagements followed discussions held at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) office in Paris before he travelled to Strasbourg for official meetings.
According to Obi, the discussions at the European Parliament focused on Africa’s future and the need for deeper cooperation between Europe and African countries, especially Nigeria.
He said Africa remains a continent with enormous potential because of its abundant natural resources and its growing youthful population.
Obi stressed that the continent has the capacity to drive innovation, production and economic transformation if it is supported by responsible leadership and strong institutions.
He urged European leaders to strengthen partnerships that promote good governance, protect democratic institutions and safeguard the integrity of elections across Africa.
The former Anambra State governor also said Africa needs leaders with vision, competence and integrity to fight corruption, tackle insecurity and reduce inequality.
According to him, these are the key ingredients for building peaceful, prosperous and inclusive societies.
Obi maintained that Africa should no longer be viewed as a continent defined by its challenges but as one full of opportunities, solutions and possibilities.
He added that Nigeria has both the human and natural resources needed to make meaningful contributions to global development.
“Our future must be built on responsible leadership, productive partnerships and a shared commitment to human dignity and prosperity,” Obi said.
He ended his message with his familiar call for national renewal, saying, “A better Nigeria is possible. A New Nigeria is POssible.”
