The former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has lashed out at the federal government’s conditional cash transfer programme saying mere sharing of N5, 000 to indigent Nigerians would not bring the beneficiaries out of poverty.
Obi who stated this at ‘This Generation Conference, 2018,’ organised by the Summit Bible Church in Abuja on Saturday, said Nigeria does not need a “resource sharer” but a leader who can create and manage resources.
Obi who spoke on the theme ‘Taking Responsibility, Making Nigeria Great,’ said N5, 000 cannot financially empower anyone and urged the citizens to vote only competent leaders into office in 2019.
He said about 60 per cent of youths were unemployed, noting that giving N1 million each to selected university graduates would be more impactful than doling out between N5,000-N10,000 as being done by the government.
“Incompetent leaders need to be removed for Nigeria to work; Investment in education is necessary but the nation is not doing that. Nigerian can only be great with leaders who have the capacity.
“The government is sharing N5, 000 to some people, but this cannot bring them out of poverty. What we need is resources creator, resources manager, not resources sharer,” he said.
In his presentation, a consultant, Mr. Leke Alder, said the nation should set up seven economic zones in different geo-political zones, noting that Nigeria needs to craft an economic model which must be driven with logical consistency.
Also speaking, former minister of aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka said Nigeria cannot develop without an open and transparent recruitment process in government agencies and parastatals.
In his remarks, the conference convener and pastor of Summit Bible Church, Dr. Andy Osakwe, said the event was put together to deliberate on ways to sanitise the leadership process.
He also said the youths by their sheer number, could influence and change the leadership situation in the country.
