Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigerians have no reason to be poor, considering the country’s wealth of resources. Speaking at a dinner hosted in his honour by the Abia State Government in Umuahia, he stated, “Nigerians have no business with poverty because God has given us all that we need. If we are mismanaging what God has given us, we do not have God to blame, we have ourselves to blame.”
Obasanjo praised Governor Alex Otti’s leadership in Abia State, commending his efforts in governance. He said, “If Nigeria had 18 governors doing well in their responsibilities as leaders, we will build the country up.”
Emphasizing his passion for good governance, Obasanjo added, “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 also recalled advising former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, about a forgotten railway masterplan. “You didn’t know that we had a national plan for railway for this country, to reach every state capital as we have them now and I told you to go into the archives, it is there.”
Amaechi acknowledged Obasanjo’s visionary leadership, saying, “In your case, no matter who becomes president, you have always stood out.”
Governor Otti shared insights into his political journey, saying, “It took us ten years to get here… I was sure that I heard clearly from God.” He highlighted his administration’s reforms in education and pledged continued service.
Other political figures at the event praised both Obasanjo and Otti for their roles in advancing Abia’s development.