By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo declared that Africa’s widespread poverty is not a result of divine will but is instead man-made. Speaking at the FESTAC Africa Festival in Kisumu, Kenya, Obasanjo highlighted the continent’s abundant resources, stating, “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.” He called for a collective awakening to leverage Africa’s wealth and criticized past global influences that have perpetuated the continent’s economic struggles.
Obasanjo also expressed nostalgia for the revival of FESTAC, a festival first held in Nigeria during his military rule in 1977, emphasizing the need for African unity and leadership to achieve economic liberation. He stressed, “We have everything needed to create wealth. No one will do it for us. We must do it ourselves.”
Source: Chrysora News
