- Former President Olusegun Obasanjo calls for Nigerians to overcome poverty.
- He highlights Nigeria’s abundant natural and human resources as potential assets.
- Obasanjo expresses concern over ongoing hardships faced by citizens.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians to rise above poverty, citing the country’s vast natural and human resources as evidence that the nation should not be struggling. Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Abia State Government in his honor at the Government House in Umuahia on Friday, Obasanjo voiced concern over the persistent hardship experienced by Nigerians, attributing it to the ineffective management of resources.
“We have all the resources we need, and there’s no reason for Nigerians to be impoverished,” Obasanjo stated. “If we mismanage the wealth given to us, we should hold ourselves accountable, not God.”
The former president also praised Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for his leadership, noting the positive reception of his administration’s efforts by the public. He encouraged Otti to keep up the good work, adding that if at least 18 state governors followed suit, Nigeria’s fortunes could improve dramatically.
Obasanjo stressed that good governance was vital, emphasizing that Nigerians deserved better. “It doesn’t matter whether I greet you or not; what matters is that the people of this country get the leadership they deserve, and that’s quality governance,” he explained.
Additionally, Obasanjo recalled an incident during Rotimi Amaechi’s time as Minister of Transport, where Amaechi was unaware of a national railway development plan that had been stored away in archives.
Governor Otti, in his speech, expressed his gratitude for Obasanjo’s consistent support. He shared his personal political journey, reflecting on the challenges he faced over the years. According to Otti, it took him ten years to achieve his current position, following two contested elections in 2015 and 2019, both of which he claims were marred by electoral fraud.
“Vision is key,” Otti remarked. “It took us ten years to reach here. We won both elections, but they were stolen. Many had lost hope, but I remained certain that God’s guidance would see us through.”
