Former Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has said that Nigeria has all it takes to lead black nations around the world, but is being held back by mismanagement and corruption.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, the respected cleric expressed concern over the country’s continued struggle to meet the expectations of its founding fathers, 65 years after independence.
Cardinal Onaiyekan, who is known for speaking boldly on national issues, said the country’s real problem is not a lack of resources but poor leadership and failure to manage its wealth properly.
“We have all it takes to be the leader of the black nations in the premier league of world nations,” he said. “But we are not going to get there by propaganda. We will only get there by what is real on the ground.”
He noted that Nigeria’s setbacks are not due to a lack of potential, but because of the way its leaders have handled governance over the years. According to him, Nigeria can still rise to greatness if corruption is tackled and resources are used wisely.
As Nigeria recently marked its 65th independence anniversary, Onaiyekan reflected on how far the country has come and how far it still needs to go. He said the dreams of independence heroes like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello are yet to be fulfilled.
“Why we haven’t reached the goals of our founding fathers has to do with the management of our wonderful resources,” he stressed.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is blessed with vast natural and human resources, including oil, gas, agriculture, and a young population. Yet, millions of citizens still live in poverty, and the country faces challenges ranging from insecurity to unemployment.
The cleric’s comments come at a time when many Nigerians are expressing frustration over rising costs of living, poor infrastructure, and a lack of basic services. He called for a return to true values and accountable governance.
