Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned Nigeria's poverty as a result of poor leadership, not a lack of resources. Speaking at a dinner in Abia State, he praised Governor Alex Otti for his governance reforms and called for accountability, stressing that Nigerians deserve prosperity through better leadership.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has sharply criticized decades of mismanagement and poor governance as the root causes of the country’s persistent poverty, declaring that Nigerians “don’t deserve to be poor.”
Speaking during a dinner hosted in his honor by the Abia State Government on April 11, 2025, Obasanjo addressed a crowd of state officials and civic leaders, stating that Nigeria's wealth in natural and human resources stands in stark contrast to the economic realities faced by millions of its citizens.
“God has blessed Nigeria abundantly,” Obasanjo said. “If we are still poor, it is not because of a lack of divine provision. It is because we have consistently failed ourselves through misgovernance.”
His remarks come amid growing national frustration with inflation, rising unemployment, and continued infrastructural decay. Obasanjo, who served two terms as a civilian president after earlier ruling as a military head of state, has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of Nigeria’s political class.
Obasanjo also lauded Abia State Governor Alex Otti for what he described as “visionary leadership.” He argued that if even a third of Nigeria’s 36 governors governed at Otti’s level, the country would experience real and lasting progress.
Governor Otti, in turn, highlighted his administration’s focus on education and governance reform. “We didn’t get here easily,” he said, referencing his long political journey. “But with a clear vision and determination, transformation is possible.”
Obasanjo concluded by stressing that personal or political differences must not obstruct the pursuit of good governance: “What matters is that Nigerians get what they deserve — and what they deserve is leadership that works.”
