By Darlington Onyebuchi Agoha
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Dear Obi Cubana,
I recently came across headlines where you claimed to have made your first millions during your NYSC service in 1999. While you present this story as a “motivational” milestone, let me remind you of a reality you seem to overlook: success is not a new phenomenon, and real wealth does not always announce itself loudly.
The truth is that even in the 1990s—just as it is today—many industrious Nigerian students were making their first millions as undergraduates, long before wearing the NYSC uniform. The difference is that most of them were not loud about it. They built their wealth through grit, discipline, and focus, without seeking validation through media attention. Your “breakthrough” was not extraordinary; it was a reality for many smart and enterprising students then, just as it remains for many resourceful undergraduates today.
It appears that this sudden wave of “motivational” storytelling is a calculated attempt to influence young people in support of President Tinubu’s 2027 agenda. You seem to be promoting a “grass-to-grace” narrative to distract from the economic hardship currently faced by the average Nigerian family.
Let it be clear: Nigerians are looking for leadership with the competence and capacity to fix the economy—not storytelling that diverts attention from rising inflation and worsening living conditions. Such narratives may appeal to the uninformed, but they cannot sway thoughtful and discerning citizens who can see through political messaging.
Obi, while we acknowledge and respect your achievements in the hospitality industry, it is important not to undermine public intelligence with what appears to be political marketing disguised as motivation. Nigerians are more informed than ever; we understand that noise is not synonymous with competence, and we will not be “motivated” into endorsing continued economic hardship.
*Darlington Onyebuchi Agoha is a Political Analyst and Public Affairs Commentator.
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