Former President Olusegun Obasanjo isn’t holding back — and this time, he’s calling out Nigeria’s leadership and resource mismanagement that’s kept the country stuck in poverty despite its vast natural and human wealth.
Speaking at a dinner hosted in his honour by the Abia State Government in Umuahia, Obasanjo passionately declared,
“Nigerians have no business being poor. God has blessed this country with everything we need. If we’re still poor, we have no one else to blame but ourselves.”
The ex-president praised Governor Alex Otti for setting a new tone for leadership in Abia, applauding his ongoing reforms that have won admiration far beyond the state’s borders. According to Obasanjo,
“If Nigeria had 18 governors doing as well as Otti, we would have a different country today.”
Highlighting the importance of competent governance, he emphasized that his concern has always been for the well-being of ordinary Nigerians — not personal popularity.
“Whether you greet me or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that Nigerians get the good governance they deserve,” he said.
Obasanjo also took a moment to reflect on a past encounter with former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, recalling how he directed him to an old national railway master plan that had been forgotten in the archives.
“Even if you don’t like me, I’ll still give you advice. That plan was meant to connect every state capital by rail,” he recounted.
Governor Otti, in his response, spoke about the ten-year journey it took him to get elected, insisting that vision, faith, and perseverance kept him going even when many had written him off.
“I was sure I heard from God,” Otti said, detailing his ongoing reforms, especially in the education sector, to ensure no child is left behind in Abia.
Meanwhile, Amaechi, also present at the event, called on Abia’s political players to start preparing early for the 2027 general elections, warning that quality leadership must not be taken for granted.
“We must protect what we have. We can’t afford to lose momentum,” he cautioned.
Other dignitaries, including Senator Darlington Nwokocha and Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, echoed support for Governor Otti and Obasanjo, praising the developmental strides being recorded across all of Abia’s local governments.
With praise, reflection, and bold calls for action, the evening served as a reminder that Nigeria’s future lies in visionary leadership and an end to the cycle of waste and mismanagement.
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