Obasanjo Identifies Major Cause of Poverty in Africa: “They Were Deceiving Us With Initiatives”

• A former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has identified one major reason Africa is retrogressing
• Obasanjo said that given the continent’s abundant resources, there is no reason for its growing poverty
• The elder statesman made this assertion at the opening ceremony of the FESTAC Africa Festival at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu, Kenya

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the widespread poverty in Africa is man-made and not an act of God.

Obasanjo made this statement on Monday, August 26, at the opening ceremony of the FESTAC Africa Festival at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu, Kenya.

Obasanjo tells African leaders to wake up

As reported by The Punch, the former head of state remarked that, given the continent’s abundant resources, there is no reason for its poverty. He, however, urged African leaders to wake up to their responsibility.

Read also

2027 election: Presidency reacts amid alleged plot against Tinubu

He said:

“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.”

Obasanjo blames World Bank

As reported by Daily Trust, Obasanjo also accused the World Bank of deceiving African nations with some of its initiatives.

“Structural adjustment was the idea of the World Bank. However, I disagreed because we lacked the structure. What exactly were we adjusting? They were simply deceiving us.”

Read more about Obasanjo:

• Hardship: Why Nigeria remains backward - Obasanjo
• Obasanjo finally reacts to claim his father is Igbo
• Igbo Must Go Hashtag: Obasanjo breaks silence, “We own this country together”

How Nigeria lost out in 'Operation Feed The Nation'

Read also

PDP crisis worsens as Atiku’s camp fires back at Bode George: "Source of shame"

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Obasanjo explained how a decision by the late Shehu Shagari was allegedly one of the reasons for Nigeria’s failure in food sufficiency.

During a think tank event attended by Legit.ng, Obasanjo noted after he left a policy of ‘rice production’, his successor came in and cancelled it.

A veteran farmer, Obasanjo launched the ´Operation Feed the Nation´ whilst the military head of state and has been a prominent advocate for agribusiness in Nigeria and across Africa.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng