Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has said that Nigeria is not lacking in talent but has endured decades of leadership failure that has prevented citizens from achieving their full potential.
In a statement shared on Monday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi said his reflections were sparked as he prepared to watch the Super Bowl, the National Football League’s championship game, held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
According to him, the presence of Nigerian-born players and athletes of Nigerian descent on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages underscored what Nigerians could accomplish when given the right environment to succeed.
“As I prepared to watch the Super Bowl tonight, I was reminded of Nigeria’s vast potential. On the field were three exceptional Nigerians making their nation proud on the world’s biggest sporting stage,” Obi wrote.
He highlighted Michael Onwenu of the New England Patriots, Uchenna Nwosu of the Seattle Seahawks, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, also of the Seahawks, who is of Nigerian heritage.
Obi stressed that their achievements were not accidental, but the result of discipline, opportunity, and systems that recognise and reward talent.
“Their success is not accidental; it is the result of discipline, opportunity, and systems that recognise and reward talent,” he stated.
The former Anambra State governor noted that watching their performances reinforced the reality that Nigeria’s struggles are not due to a lack of gifted individuals, but the failure of leadership to create enabling conditions at home.
“Watching them, one cannot help but reflect on what Nigerians can achieve when provided with the right environment to thrive,” he said.
Obi argued that with vision-driven, competent, and ethical leadership, Nigeria could replicate such success across multiple sectors.
“If our country were governed with vision, competence, and integrity, and leadership focused on building strong institutions, investing in people, and creating equal opportunities, there would be no limit to what Nigerians could accomplish — not just in sports, but in science, technology, business, education, and every sphere of human endeavour,” he added.
He concluded that Nigeria’s long-standing challenge has never been talent scarcity, but leadership failure.
“Nigeria is not lacking in talent. What we have lacked for too long is leadership that unleashes that talent,” Obi said.
He maintained that once leadership is fixed, Nigeria would not only compete globally but consistently excel.
“When we get leadership right, Nigeria will not only participate on the global stage but will consistently excel and lead,” he added.
The Super Bowl, first held in 1966, is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) and has been played on the second Sunday of February since 2022.
