“Line Up Nigeria’s Wealthy People, You Can’t Trace Most of Their Wealth to Productive Activity” – Oby Ezekwesili

• Oby Ezekwesili has questioned the sources of wealth among Nigeria’s elite, arguing that the country’s political system often rewards questionable behaviour while punishing productive and honest citizens.
• Her comments have triggered widespread agreement online, with several Nigerians pointing to alleged corruption and the rapid accumulation of wealth by some public officials after entering government.

Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili has criticised Nigeria’s political and economic system, arguing that many wealthy Nigerians cannot clearly trace their fortunes to productive economic activities.

Speaking on News Central’s 60 Minutes with Mr. Kay, Ezekwesili said Nigeria’s leadership recruitment process has created an environment where poor character can become an advantage.

She said, “the processes for leadership recruitment have in many ways been designed in the image of those who have held the levers of power.”

According to her, this has created a political culture where “a lack of character is actually an advantage.”

“When you have that kind of a distortion where bad behavior is what your political system rewards, there will be a market for bad behavior. And then good behavior is punished,” she said.

Ezekwesili also questioned the source of wealth among some of Nigeria’s richest individuals.

“Look at just bring line up all the people who are wealthy in our country today and try to trace their wealth to any productive activity. None. Maybe a few,” she said.

The former minister argued that some people become wealthy after gaining access to government, while society often celebrates their wealth instead of questioning how it was acquired.

“This is what grounded the Nigerian society,” she said, describing the situation as “almost the same thing” across Africa.

Ezekwesili urged Nigerians and other Africans to take deliberate steps towards achieving better governance rather than waiting for change to happen on its own.

“Nothing happens that is not made to happen,” she said. “To get good governance is a design. You have to design for you to then end up with good governance. If you don’t design for good governance, you will have the kind of governance that we have.”

Her remarks have sparked reactions online, with some Nigerians agreeing that Nigeria’s wealth and political systems often reward connections and access to public resources.

Kemi Kane: Gbam!!! She has said it all . Nothing to add except people offended by this truth they’d rather throw blames than be responsible in your local area. It’s starts from the root.

Jossi Ofobuike-Okudoh: She didn’t lie!!!

Andrew Fineface Okenna: Absolutely correct, some told us their father was a general manager of companies when actually he retired as a pastor.

Fatai Dlaw: This statement might sound like joke.. but this is the reality

Sylvester Okade: Correct the reasons why Dangote and his likes remains the only one I have full respect for

Miky Dab: They are just using politics to milk Nigeria Treasury,

Ololobou Ebiegberi Jude: Are her thoughts valid, certainly YES..

Gabriel Augustine: Come counsellors in Local government before they assume office na leg them they use trek like everybody but once they assume office before first tenure end you don see them with Lexus oe benz, OMO!

Jesse Praise: otedola enomini dollar

Sunday Gideon: Where’s the lie?

Salako Akinkunmi Bémí-báwà: Obi Peter own nko??

Stephanie Stephy: Pls ma,vandalize the table and let the tracing begin many billionaire would not make such utterance, because they know why

Ekene Onyeagusi: then productive activity don’t give wealth.

Amalu David: Truth in the raw form

Tizzy Nelson: All of us know these things nah