Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said Nigeria is endowed with abundant talent but has been held back for decades by leadership failures that have denied citizens the opportunity to realise their full potential.
In a statement shared on his official X handle on Monday, Obi said the country’s untapped capacity came to mind as he prepared to watch the Super Bowl, the championship game of the National Football League, held in Santa Clara, California.
He said the presence of players of Nigerian origin on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages underscored what Nigerians could achieve when supported by functional systems and enabling environments.
Obi cited Michael Onwenu of the New England Patriots, Uchenna Nwosu and Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks, noting that their achievements reflected discipline, opportunity and structures that reward excellence.
According to the former Anambra State governor, the success of such athletes was not by chance but the outcome of systems that recognise and nurture talent.
He said their performances served as a reminder of what would be possible if similar conditions existed in Nigeria.
Obi argued that the country’s longstanding challenges were not rooted in a shortage of gifted individuals but in weak leadership that has failed to build strong institutions and provide equal opportunities.
He added that with leadership anchored on vision, competence and integrity, Nigeria could achieve remarkable results across sectors such as sports, science, technology, education and business.
Obi stressed that once the leadership question is resolved, Nigeria would not only compete globally but would consistently excel and assume a leadership position on the world stage.