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Former 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party and ex-Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Peter Obi, has challenged the European Union and the entire Western world to urgently rethink their perception, policy posture and strategic engagement with Nigeria and Africa, warning that the future stability and prosperity of Europe itself is deeply tied to the fate of the African continent — particularly Nigeria.

Addressing the European Union Parliament in a rare and deeply reflective intervention, Obi said his presence was not accidental, but intentional — to “start a conversation” that he believes the global community had long avoided.

“People ask why I am here. I am here because I have discovered that the European Union, most countries in Europe and the western world have very little knowledge about Nigeria and Africa in general, and because of that, Africa is rarely brought into perspective in your decisions and your thinking. I am here to say: it is time to rethink,” Obi declared to a packed session.

Describing Africa as “the last frontier of global development,” he painted a powerful picture of a continent endowed with enormous potential but crippled by systemic poverty and leadership failure.

He reminded European lawmakers that Africa is not only the second largest continent in size and population but is also the richest in natural resources, with vast uncultivated lands and the youngest population in the world, as over 60 percent of Africans are young people.

Yet, he noted with concern, Africa remains a continent plagued by mass poverty.

Using Nigeria as a striking example, Obi revealed the stark imbalance that underscores Africa’s economic tragedy.

“Nigeria alone is more than 50 percent of the population of the European Union. You have about 450 million people, Nigeria has about 240 million.

In landmass, Europe is just a little over four million square kilometres. Nigeria alone is about a quarter of that. But while Europe has a per capita income of over $40,000, Nigeria — with half your population — has barely 2.5 percent of that. That alone shows you the magnitude of our untapped potential,” he stated.

He warned that Europe and Africa share an unavoidable destiny by geography and consequence, stressing that Europe remains the closest continent to Africa and would therefore be the biggest beneficiary if Africa rises, and the most affected if Africa collapses.

“If Africa turns around, Europe will benefit the most. If Africa collapses, the consequences will affect you more than anyone else,” Obi cautioned.

He was firm in identifying the core of Africa’s problem as a leadership deficit, not a lack of resources or manpower.

“The problem of Africa remains leadership — political leadership that is competent, with capacity, compassion, commitment and character, to confront corruption, enforce law and order and invest in the critical areas of development such as health and education, and lift people out of poverty,” he said.

Addressing prevailing global narratives surrounding insecurity in Nigeria, Obi dismissed simplistic interpretations and called for a deeper, more honest diagnosis of the crisis.

“Yes, there are killings. Yes, there are kidnappings and criminalities. People may call it genocide, they may call it Muslims versus Christians. But we must look at what is driving these crimes.

“When you have millions of people living in multidimensional poverty, millions of out-of-school children, millions who never had access to education, you create a fertile ground for recruitment into all forms of criminality. Poverty and lack of education are the real drivers of insecurity,” he asserted.

He reiterated that Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, accounting for almost one-sixth of the continent’s entire population, and therefore holds the key to Africa’s overall transformation.

“If you want to turn around Africa, you must start with Nigeria. Nigeria is the engine that will drive the rest of Africa. And in doing so, you will create a massive market, a stable region, and unprecedented mutual benefits in trade, security, investment and human development,” Obi told the EU lawmakers.

He appealed for sustained dialogue and long-term partnership, emphasizing that meaningful change cannot be achieved through a single meeting but through consistent engagement, shared commitment and mutual understanding.

“That is why I came to continue the conversation with you. It will take several visits and continued dialogue to fully intimate you with the trajectory that Africa, and Nigeria in particular, must follow for the benefit of us all,” he concluded, while expressing gratitude for the opportunity to address the distinguished session.

Obi’s speech has since sparked renewed discussions in diplomatic and policy circles about Europe’s relationship with Africa and the urgent need for a strategic shift in priorities towards genuine development partnerships, youth empowerment, education, good governance and poverty eradication.

Political analysts believe his message was not only a call for African transformation, but also a warning to the global community that the destiny of continents is now inseparably linked in an increasingly interconnected world.

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