Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that poverty should not be a reality in Nigeria, given the country’s abundant natural and human resources. Speaking during a dinner hosted in his honor by the Abia State Government on Friday at the Government House in Umuahia, Obasanjo expressed deep concern over the mismanagement of Nigeria’s vast wealth.
“Nigerians have no business with poverty because God has given us all that we need,” Obasanjo declared. “If we are mismanaging what God has given us, we have no one else to blame but ourselves.”
Praise for Governor Otti’s Leadership
The former president commended Governor Alex Otti for his transformative leadership in Abia State, noting the wide recognition his administration has earned across the country. He urged the governor to remain focused on delivering good governance and added that if Nigeria had 18 governors performing at the same level, the country would be on a much better path.
“What matters most to me is not whether you greet me or not, but that Nigerians are getting the quality of governance they deserve,” Obasanjo said, underscoring his lifelong advocacy for better leadership.
A Lesson from the Archives
Obasanjo also recounted a moment with former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, when he had to direct him to archived records containing Nigeria’s national railway development plan—a vision to connect every state capital by rail.
“You didn’t know we had a railway master plan. I told you to check the archives. It’s there,” he said. “As a minister, you got some things right and some wrong — but that’s part of leadership.”
Governor Otti Reflects on the Journey to Victory
In his remarks, Governor Otti reflected on the ten-year journey it took to secure his current position, emphasizing the importance of vision and persistence in leadership.
“We contested elections in 2015 and 2019, and we won clearly, but those victories were
