Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo recently addressed the pressing issue of poverty in Africa, stating that it is not a result of divine will. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the FESTAC Africa Festival held at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu, Kenya, on Monday, Obasanjo highlighted the paradox of Africa’s poverty amidst its abundant resources.
Obasanjo emphasized, “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.” He drew attention to historical patterns where Africans were exploited for labor to enrich other parts of the world, beginning with the transatlantic slave trade and continuing through the era of colonialism.
According to Obasanjo, these historical injustices have resulted in a situation where Africans continue to enrich others while remaining in poverty. He called for a mental awakening among Africans to recognize and utilize their resources effectively.
Further critiquing international economic policies, Obasanjo mentioned the World Bank’s structural adjustment programs, which he opposed. He argued that these programs were designed to manipulate rather than genuinely aid African economies. “Structural adjustment was the idea of the World Bank,” he said. “However, I disagreed because we lacked the structure. What exactly were we adjusting? They were simply deceiving us.
”Obasanjo also expressed his enthusiasm for the revival of the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC), recalling its historical significance. The second edition of FESTAC was held in Nigeria in 1977 during his tenure as a military head of state, while the first edition took place in Dakar, Senegal, in 1966. Reflecting on the festival’s history, he shared, “I am here to express my appreciation and thanks, first to the governor of Kisumu County, Anyang Nyong’o, for hosting FESTAC here and contributing to what I call a renaissance and rebirth of FESTAC.
”He recalled the challenges faced in hosting the second FESTAC in Nigeria after a change in government in 1975. Despite calls to cancel the event, Obasanjo insisted that the festival should proceed, and it turned out to be a great success, drawing participants from across the African diaspora, including those from Papua New Guinea, Australia, and the United States. He lamented that FESTAC was discontinued for over four decades, attributing this hiatus to its reliance on government support alone.
Obasanjo’s comments underscore his belief in Africa’s potential for growth and the need for Africans to change their mindset to harness their continent’s wealth effectively.
