Avellon Williams
Abuja, Nigeria- “Africa has no reason to be poor. Our poverty is not an act of God. We are steeped in poverty due to our poor mentality. We need to wake up because we have a wealth of resources.” – Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has forcefully rejected the notion that Africa’s widespread poverty is a divine fate, asserting that it is a man-made crisis stemming from the continent’s “poor mentality.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the FESTAC Africa Festival in Kisumu, Kenya, Obasanjo declared that Africa has abundant resources and no justification for its impoverished state. He criticized the structural adjustment policies imposed by the World Bank, arguing that they were ill-suited for African economies lacking the necessary foundations.
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military head of state and later as a democratically elected president, expressed nostalgia for the return of the renowned Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC), which was last held in Nigeria during his tenure in 1977. He commended the event’s organizers for reviving this cultural celebration, which he believes is part of the process of African unification.
The former president also called for reform of the African Union (AU), criticizing the continental body’s reliance on external funding to implement its programs. He advocated for the election of Raila Odinga, the former Kenyan Prime Minister, as the next Chairperson of the AU Commission, stating that Odinga understands Africa’s challenges and can provide the necessary leadership to achieve economic liberation.
Obasanjo’s remarks underscore his longstanding belief that Africa’s development challenges are rooted in poor governance, exploitative external forces, and a lack of self-belief among African leaders and citizens.
He has consistently championed the view that the continent’s abundant natural resources and human capital should translate into greater prosperity if only Africans can overcome their “poor mentality” and work collectively towards economic emancipation.
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