Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for firm action against corrupt leadership across Africa. Speaking at Rice University’s maiden African Development Conference, themed “The Governance Revolution,” Obi emphasized that corruption and poor leadership remain the major obstacles to the continent’s progress.
According to Naturenex, Obi delivered his address on Saturday, advocating for a shift in governance driven by capable and empathetic leaders who are fully committed to measurable development goals and responsible public service.
He stressed the pivotal role of education, rule of law, and small businesses in Africa’s growth strategy. “We must invest in education to prepare the skilled workforce required for productivity, security of life and property and adherence to the rule of law must be upheld. The rule of law must be sacrosanct. We must fight corruption to its barest minimum and implement policies that support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME),” he said.
Continuing, Obi reinforced the importance of accountability in leadership and the urgent need to tackle corruption. “We must invest in education to prepare the skilled workforce required for productivity. Security of life and property and adherence to the rule of law must be upheld. We must fight corruption to its barest minimum and ensure that those who engage in corruption are punished. We must engage MSME which remains the backbone for economic and job creation,” he added.
Highlighting Africa’s potential, the former Anambra State governor pointed to the continent’s youthful population as a powerful asset. Drawing comparisons with countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines, he noted how nations with large populations have turned their demographics into economic strength through sound governance.
“Comparable nations with large populations, like Indonesia and the Philippines, have demonstrated that with the right governance structures, such demographic strength can become an economic asset. We must do the same in Africa,” Obi concluded.
