Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over the persistent poverty in Nigeria, asserting that the nation’s abundant natural and human resources should guarantee prosperity for its citizens.
Speaking at a dinner hosted in his honor by the Abia State Government on Friday at the Government House in Umuahia, Obasanjo emphasized that the country’s rich resources have been mismanaged, leading to widespread poverty.
He stated, “Nigerians have no business with poverty because God has given us all that we need. If we are mismanaging what God has given us, we do not have God to blame; we have ourselves to blame.”
The former president praised Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for the transformation his administration has brought to the state, commending the governor for his widespread public approval. Obasanjo encouraged Otti to continue on this path of progress, stressing the importance of effective leadership at the state level.
He noted that the country’s fortunes would significantly improve if at least 18 governors performed their duties as effectively as Otti. Obasanjo also reiterated his deep concern for the well-being of Nigerians and the quality of governance.
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Reflecting on the state of governance, Obasanjo recounted an incident involving Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transport, when Amaechi was unaware of a pre-existing national railway development plan. Obasanjo recalled that he had to direct Amaechi to the archives to retrieve the necessary documentation, underscoring the need for a thorough understanding and proper utilization of the nation’s resources.
Governor Alex Otti, in his remarks, acknowledged Obasanjo’s unwavering support and commended the former president for his vision. Otti reflected on his decade-long political journey, stating that persistence and resilience were essential to his success. He shared how it took him ten years to secure his position, despite earlier elections being marred by alleged rigging.
Otti concluded, “Once you have vision, you have to keep to it. It took us ten years to get here. In the two elections we contested from 2015 to 2019, we won clearly, but they were all stolen. A lot of people had given up hope and said it wasn’t going to work, but I was sure that I heard clearly from God.”
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