Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigerians have no reason to be poor or hungry, given the country’s abundance of natural and human resources.
Speaking during a dinner in his honour hosted by the Abia State Government at the Government House, Umuahia, on Friday, Obasanjo emphasized that Nigeria’s poverty problem stems from the mismanagement of its vast resources.
“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.”
Obasanjo commended Governor Alex Otti for the positive transformation in Abia State, describing his administration’s performance as widely acknowledged and impactful. He urged the governor to remain steadfast in his efforts, adding that if Nigeria had at least 18 governors delivering good governance, the country would be on a strong path to development.
“For me, whether you greet me or not, what matters most is that Nigerians are getting what they deserve — and what they deserve is good governance,” he said.
The former president also recounted a past advisory he gave to former Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, during his time in office. He recalled directing Amaechi to the archives to discover Nigeria’s existing national railway development plan.
“You didn’t know that we had a national railway plan to connect all state capitals, and I told you to go into the archives — it’s there,” Obasanjo said. “As Minister of Transport, you got some things right and some things wrong, but I still gave you my advice, whether or not you liked me.”
In his remarks, Governor Otti expressed gratitude to Obasanjo for his support and guidance. He reflected on his decade-long political journey, noting the importance of vision and perseverance.
“Once you have a vision, you have to stick to it. It took us ten years to get here. The elections we contested in 2015 and 2019 were clearly won but stolen. Many lost hope, but I held on because I believed I heard clearly from God,” the governor said.
Otti also highlighted his administration’s reforms in the education sector aimed at increasing access to quality education in Abia.
Meanwhile, Amaechi called on political stakeholders in Abia to begin early preparations for the 2027 general elections. He noted that the value of good governance is often appreciated only after it is lost.
“In your case, President Obasanjo, regardless of who is in power, you have always stood out,” Amaechi said, praising the former leader’s visionary leadership.
He emphasized the importance of supporting competent leaders like Governor Otti, warning that opposition parties such as the APC were already mobilizing.
“If we don’t prepare now, we may lose out completely. We must not only protect what we have but ensure we return in 2028 to celebrate true democratic success,” he added.
In separate remarks, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, who represents Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, and Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, acting National Secretary of the Labour Party, expressed pride in Abia’s progress. They thanked Obasanjo for his unwavering support and praised Governor Otti for his inclusive development efforts across all local government areas of the state.
