Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has said Nigeria possesses what it takes to stand out among black nations, but corruption and mismanagement continue to drag the country behind.
He made this point on Wednesday the 1st of October, 2025, during an interview with Arise Television, stressing that Nigeria’s setbacks are not due to a lack of potential but the failures of leadership.
Onaiyekan explained that despite celebrating 65 years of independence, the country still struggles because governance has not matched its abundant resources.
He maintained that Nigeria can reclaim its position if leaders commit to accountability and proper management.
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“Why we haven’t reached the goals of our founding fathers has to do with the management of our wonderful resources. We have all it takes to be the leader of the black nations in the premier league of world nations.
“But we are not going to get there by propaganda, we will only get there by reality on the ground,” he said.