- He said crude oil has brought nothing but misfortune to Nigeria, adding that its discovery led to the neglect of the agricultural sector
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo says the discovery of crude oil in Nigeria torpedoed the growth of the country.
He said crude oil has brought nothing but misfortune to Nigeria, adding that its discovery led to the neglect of the agricultural sector which used to be the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.
Obasanjo made this known while fielding questions in Lagos at the Africa Methodist Council Heads of Conference Summit and Women’s Movement Leadership Summit, on Sunday
He said, “One of the things that was a little bit of misfortune in Nigeria is crude oil. We were drinking and sleeping oil, and it was a misfortune for us. It made us to abandon agriculture. Oil is a waste asset. Agriculture is renewable. We have to go back to it.”
He stressed the need to empower and provide employment for the increasingly restive youth.
“We have to give something to our youths who are becoming restive, frustrated and dangerous.
“If we are going to curb that, it is giving them education, skills, empowerment and employment. If we don’t, they will soon come to attack us in our homes in the daytime, and it is a matter of time.
“Even food, we don’t produce enough. We spend over $20bn to import food. 60 per cent of arable land is not cultivated. The one cultivated is not used to maximum capacity. We need leaders who will lead us to the promised land.”