Obi made the assertion during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday while responding to claims that he may struggle to secure votes in the region without the backing of key northern political figures such as Rabiu Kwankwaso and Nasir El-Rufai.
Addressing the concern, Obi said while collaboration with influential northern politicians is important, his vision for the region stands out.
“I work with them (influential northern politicians) so that they can do that but I can tell you, nobody can do what I intend to do in the north,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor outlined agriculture as a key driver of economic transformation in the North, describing the region’s vast land resources as a major untapped asset.
“I will change the north, our greatest asset is in the north. The vast uncultivated land is our future. We can make more money from agriculture than we make from oil, and that we have to start doing immediately,” Obi stated.
He also linked economic development to improved security, arguing that investments in critical sectors would help address the root causes of instability in the region.
“If we want to secure the north today, we need to start investing in those critical areas (such as) agriculture, start pulling people out of poverty, investing in education, investing in health, and that we can do,” he added.
Obi’s comments come amid the leadership crisis within the ADC, while opposition leaders seek to consolidate support across key regions, particularly in Northern Nigeria, which remains a decisive voting bloc.