People's Democratic Party chieftain, Peter
Obi has given his candid opinion on the problem of agitations by different groups in Nigeria.
A former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter
Obi, has identified poverty and hunger as main
causes of agitations by ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Obi said this in Calabar during the 7th lecture
organised by the Bridge Leadership Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded by a former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke.
The foundation was established in 2011 by
Imoke to inculcate entrepreneurial skills in
young citizens. The theme for the 2017 edition was 'Made in Nigeria: Local production, global market.'
Obi, who spoke on the topic, 'Leadership and
Integrity,' said that some of the agitations
across the country had gone beyond control
because Nigeria lacked visionary leaders.
He cited Boko Haram in the North-East, militancy in the Niger-Delta, the Independent People of Biafra in the South-East and farmers/herdsmen clash as some of the challenges facing the country today.
Obi said, "Nigeria has the resources and potentials of becoming the greatest country in the world; but, the country lacks visionary leaders.
"Today, we have different forms of agitations
in Nigeria because the people are poor and
hungry. The leaders have lost touch with the led."
He commended Imoke for sustaining the
foundation for seven years, adding that
capacity building for youths was one of the
ways of curbing youth unemployment in the
country.
Earlier, Imoke said the objective of the foundation was to groom and encourage youths to take leadership role and have the basic knowledge of becoming entrepreneurs.
"The foundation provides a valuable platform
for young people to be inspired by the success stories of youths in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, who are scaling the huddles and challenges of growing up." he said.
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