Nigeria @66: Stop Giving Fake Hope, We Can’t Compete With Other Oil Nations With Current Leaders, Corruption in Next 50 Years – Ozobo Tells Leaders

By Osaro Michael, Benin

Niger Delta rights activist, political analyst, international journalist and publisher, Comrade Ozobo Austin, says Nigeria will remain backward among oil-producing nations for the next 50 years if the current order continues.

In his message to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary, Ozobo said it is time to stop deceiving Nigerians with “fake hope” as the country lacks what it takes to compete globally.

He said: “With the current crop of leaders, followers, corruption, debts and laws, it will be difficult for Nigeria to compete with counterpart oil bearing nations in the world in the next 50 years.”

Ozobo lamented that despite enormous oil and gas wealth, Nigeria remains underdeveloped while its peers are thriving.

According to him, “regional politics, religion divides, corruption and ethnicity” have eaten deep into the nation’s fabric and are frustrating purposeful development.

He maintained that “corruption and greed” are the major reasons Nigeria cannot match countries like Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which he said succeeded because of “visionary leadership and disciplined followership.”

“Nigeria has all it takes to be like Dubai or Qatar, but with the way we are going, we are far from it. Our leaders prioritize personal interest above national focus, laws are weak and selectively applied,” Ozobo stated.

He challenged leaders to stop giving Nigerians false hope and to fix the foundational problems, adding that only a new mindset that puts “national interest above sectional interest” can save the country before its centenary.