Obasanjo stresses dangers of continued economic hardship

Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo, joined by the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, have all urged for an immediate end to extreme poverty throughout Africa.

Obasanjo maintained that Nigeria shouldn’t have anything to do with extreme poverty if China could help 700 million people escape it.

In his keynote speech at Dele Momodu’s leadership lecture, “How to end hunger and poverty in Africa”, Chief Obasanjo asserted that “security is key before we talk about food.”

Obasanjo maintained that “education is one of the tools we can use to banish poverty” while delivering a long-term solution to hunger throughout Africa. Poverty will always exist where there is no education.

According to his theory, “We must have leaders whose characters display ‘communality’ in all works of life.”

“Leadership is the greatest ingredient for ending poverty. There’s no human endeavour that does not thrive on leadership.

“To get it right, we must ensure no child is uneducated.

“Nigeria can eliminate hunger and poverty with integrity, discipline and good governance.

We can do it if China can lift 700 million people out of poverty.

“Nigeria should have no business with abject poverty. If we don’t take responsibility, we all sit on a gunpowder keg.

While congratulating President Obasanjo on his submission, the Ooni of Ife urged everyone to be patriotic by collaborating with the government.

He said, “If we want to break poverty in this country, we have to be patriotic in all ramifications. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear. We may not get it right at first, but in a short time we would be the envy of the world.”