"We're rich in resources, poor in mindset" — Nigerian ex-President Obasanjo slams Africa's poverty mentality

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has delivered a scathing assessment of Africa’s poverty, attributing it to a “poor mentality” rather than divine fate.

Speaking at the FESTAC Africa Festival in Kisumu, Kenya, Obasanjo emphasized that the continent’s abundant resources make its poverty unjustifiable.

“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,” Obasanjo declared.

“We need to wake up because we have a wealth of resources. If you look back in history, you will see that whenever others needed to get work done, they came to Africa to transport black people to the so-called New World to make others rich. And that hasn’t stopped.”

Obasanjo criticized the legacy of colonialism and the slave trade, which he argued has perpetuated Africa’s exploitation. He also expressed skepticism about the World Bank’s structural adjustment policies, questioning their effectiveness in addressing the continent’s economic challenges.

In addition to his poverty remarks, Obasanjo celebrated the revival of the Festival of Arts and Culture, which was last held in Nigeria during his military rule in 1977.

He praised the event’s return, saying, “I am here to express my appreciation and thanks… I feel a bit emotional because… I insisted that we should proceed and successfully hosted it.”

The former president acknowledged that the festival’s suspension for over four decades was due to its reliance on government support, emphasizing the need for a more sustainable approach to revitalize the event.