Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a stark warning about Nigeria's current socioeconomic situation, describing the country as "sitting on a keg of gunpowder" due to the widespread hardship and poverty being experienced by citizens.

Speaking at Dele Momodu's leadership lecture on Friday, Obasanjo emphasized that Nigeria has no business with abject poverty, drawing comparisons to China's successful poverty alleviation efforts.

"If China can lift 700 million people out of poverty, Nigeria ought to have nothing to do with abject poverty," the former president stated. "If we don't take responsibility, we all sit on a gunpowder keg."

Education as a Tool Against Poverty

Obasanjo identified education as a critical tool in the fight against poverty across Africa. "Education is one of the tools we can use to banish poverty. Where there's no education, invariably, there will be poverty," he said.

The former president stressed the importance of ensuring that no child goes without education, stating that this approach is essential to addressing the root causes of poverty in the country.

Leadership and Governance

According to Obasanjo, leadership plays a crucial role in addressing hardship and lack in any nation. "Leadership is the greatest ingredient for ending poverty. There's no human endeavour that does not thrive on leadership," he emphasized.

He called for leaders whose characters display what he termed "communality" and highlighted that Nigeria can eliminate hunger and poverty through integrity, discipline, and good governance.

"In all works of life, we must have leaders whose characters display 'communality'," Obasanjo said, suggesting that effective leadership must prioritize the common good.

International Recognition

The former president also touched on how poverty affects Africa's standing in the global community. "Until we banish poverty in Africa, international communities will not recognize us as a serious continent," he warned.

This statement underscores Obasanjo's belief that addressing poverty is not just a matter of internal welfare but also crucial for Africa's international relations and standing.

Obasanjo's comments come at a time when many Nigerians are experiencing significant economic challenges, with inflation and cost of living concerns affecting households across the country.