Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that poverty in Nigeria is a consequence of poor leadership and not a lack of resources.
Speaking during a dinner organised in his honor by the Abia State Government at the Government House in Umuahia, Obasanjo stated that Nigeria is abundantly blessed, but its citizens suffer due to mismanagement.
“Nigerians have no business with poverty because God has given us all that we need,” he said.
“If we are mismanaging what God has given us, we do not have God to blame, we have ourselves to blame.
“For me, whether you don’t greet me or I greet you and you don’t answer, what is important to me is that the people of this country are getting what they deserve and what they deserve is good governance,” he said.
The former president also said the need for Nigerians to move beyond political party affiliations when electing leaders, arguing that good governance is a product of competence, not party platforms.
Obasanjo praised Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for his developmental strides, noting the widespread acclaim his administration has received.
He encouraged the governor to continue his reforms, adding that Nigeria could be transformed if at least 18 governors were performing exceptionally.
In his remarks, Governor Otti expressed gratitude to Obasanjo for his consistent support and recalled his decade-long political journey marked by perseverance and faith.
He emphasised the importance of visionary leadership, especially in reforming sectors like education.
“Once you have vision, you have to keep to it. It took us 10 years to get here, 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,” he said.
Also present was former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who urged political actors in Abia to begin early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
He warned that the value of good governance often becomes more apparent only after a less competent administration takes over.
“In your case,” he said to Obasanjo, “no matter who becomes president, you have always stood out.”
Amaechi stressed the importance of supporting credible leadership and ensuring that leaders like Otti are retained to build on their achievements.
“APC and other parties are already mobilising; if we don’t prepare now, we may lose out completely.
“We must not only protect what we have but also ensure that we come back in 2028 to celebrate true democratic success,” he added.
