President Bola Tinubu says the menace of poverty, hunger and deprivation in Nigeria and other African countries will not guarantee political stability on the continent.
According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, yesterday, the Nigerian leader stated this on Monday in New York, USA, while meeting with South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to discuss stronger economic and regional ties,
President Tinubu said the menace of poverty, hunger and deprivation in Nigeria and other African countries will not guarantee political stability on the continent.
He said, “You cannot have a stable democracy in the presence of a poverty of knowledge and a starvation of people. ’Democracy without food on the table is a breeding ground for what will consume us if care is not taken”.
The Nigerian President said Africa must have a consensus on billions of dollars spent through international development finance institutions over the years. He said the funds must meet the specific needs of developing democracies in Africa, even if it is done with exclusive regard for their enlightened self-interest.
Tinubu said this would make more impact on global affairs for the benefit of over one billion Africans with its enormous human and natural resource wealth.
The President told the South African president that “our continent is the last untapped ground for accelerated, massive growth and new economic opportunity on earth”.
