“Nigeria Lacks Good Leaders” – Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo
Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Saturday, said despite the enormous potentials the country is endowed with, Nigeria lacks good leadership to administer them.

Speaking in Abeokuta during the final of Africa Region Inter-collegiate Debate on Human Security Africa, a debate organised by Centre for Human Security (CHS), an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Obasanjo identified lack of quality leadership, among other factors, as major hindrances to development in Nigeria as well as other African countries, lamented the lack of leadership that could harness the resources to the point of noticeable development.

The occasion featured universities and secondary school students from Nigeria and other African countries who participated in a debate as part of the activities marking Obasanjo’s 76th birthday.

Obasanjo lamented the lack of good leaders in the country, stressing that leadership in any country was very important to development and growth.

“On the topic you have chosen for this debate, ‘Human Security in Africa’, whether it is a myth or reality, threat to human security, high economic growth, whether it is flash in the pan or sustainable, it all comes to one major thing and that one major thing is leadership. Very soon, I do hope that we’ll bring leadership in all dimensions and in all ramifications.

“I realise that we have many Nigerians and there are not many good leaders in Nigeria. Whatever is the reason, it is something we have to tackle because we cannot continue the way it is.

“That brings me to the hope and the bright future that I see in what Profs. Akin Mabogunje and Peter Okebukola are putting together (the debate).

“It’s to try and prepare African youths, boys and girls, together that future belongs to you youths.

“Nobody will help Africa, nobody can help Africa and that is the truth. If we expect others from outside to come and help us, it is a second class help.

“What do I see for the future? We have caliber of women, men, young and old that Africa needs to put itself up and to make its voice heard in the world today and tomorrow.

“Alfred Mills explains in his book, ‘Why Africa is poor’ but it’s a choice, a choice that our leaders have made.

“But here watching you (students) at the college level and university level. I believe that the materials are there.”

The former president expressed how shocked he was when Alhaji Aliko Dangote told him that six Ph.D holders and 600 master degree holders were among applicants for truck drivers in his company.

He stated that the issue boils down to the problems of job creation, wealth creation, among others. [VN]

19 COMMENTS

  1. This Is Absolute BULL.. I Mean Who is OBJ to TalK… He Clearly Demonstrated the Characteristics of a BAD Leader!! Now watching his protegees in actiion.. And he thinks Anyone will pay attention To The blabbing.. Well Sir Thanks but no thanks .. Correct your Wrongs before coming out to Correct others!!!

  2. You right on, chukwuma. Imagine a kettle calling pots “black”! OBJ was a failure as a leader because he accomplished next to nothing in terms of improving our lives and worse still, he imposed mediocres on us as his successor. Infact, OBJ single handedly provided the bad leadership necessary for our current backwardness so he should shut his ugly face because we are not morons…

  3. OBASANJO,,,I DY LAFF O,,LOOK KETTLE DY CALL POT BLACK,TELL ME D PPLE DAT LAYED D FOUNDATION FOR D PREDICAMENT WE ARE ALL IN NW IN DIS COUNTRY,OBJ,U NEED SERIOUS MEDICATION,DAT UR MOUTH NEEDS TO B PRESSED WIT A BLODDY HOT METAL,NAUGHTY MAN,BAD EGGGGGGGGGG

  4. OBASANJO,,,I DY LAFF O,,LOOK KETTLE DY CALL POT BLACK,TELL ME D PPLE DAT LAYED D FOUNDATION FOR D PREDICAMENT WE ARE ALL IN NW IN DIS COUNTRY,OBJ,U NEED SERIOUS MEDICATION,DAT UR MOUTH NEEDS TO B PRESSED WIT A BLODDY HOT METAL,NAUGHTY MAN,BAD EGGGGGGGGGG.MAY D GUD LORD HAV MERCY ON U ND US ALL,

  5. What’s that It, man?

    Am an ibo

    in the terms of infrastructures and intergrated development strategies, segun did perfectly and partialy well,

    How perfect? >> segun did many well to count on, what he introduced in the country were quite well, what he tried to do were also quite well too,but the population of the country never let him accomplish his dream as those he appoints keep-on seeking for money(birds of the same feather flocks together) so he never achived some of the pontentials

    How partial:?>> his government do not favours the state govorned by oppositon parties.. The likes of anambara… Suffered

  6. When ll OBJ learn to shut his mouth up and bury his head in shame.Or better still,bury his entire body alive.Obj was adjudged d world’s greatest failure as a leader.A bloody hypocrite who posed as fighting corruption,yet embezzled trillions of naira on a kangaroo electricity project.The moron conducted an election that was adjudged d worst in the entire galaxy.Honestly,if OBJ has any conscience left,he should have done himself a great favour by committing suicide sinceeee! What an arrant nonsence!

  7. When ll OBJ learn to shut his mouth up and bury his head in shame.Or better still,bury his entire body alive.Obj was adjudged d world’s greatest failure as a leader.A bloody hypocrite who posed as fighting corruption,yet embezzled trillions of naira on a kangaroo electricity project.The moron conducted an election that was adjudged d worst in the entire galaxy.annihilated ODI And Zaki Biam communities in cold blood.etc.Honestly,if OBJ has any conscience left,he should have done himself a great favour by committing suicide sinceeee! What an arrant nonsence!

  8. everyhuman being have his/her own weak side.bt obj try his best for 9ja,he introduce telecommunication,keke napeb,he also tackle any crime group such as militant,boko haram,in nutshell he try his best,bt he dnt do to people expectation,bt still we can never compare him with jonathan.

  9. When will our A-list national destroyers accept their blame-portion in this rot we’ve found ourselves in? Obj is an insulting joke (alongside every comment he makes) on the collective intelligence of Nigerians. He’d better watched it or else . . .

  10. OBASANJO , IF U HAVE CONSCIENCE U WOULDN’T HAVE SAID WHAT U EAID. U THAT MADE POPULAR AND ACCEPTABLE RIGGING IN NIGERIA, AND U HAVE ALSO COME TO GHANA TO RIG FOR MAHAMA, NOW THE COUNTRY IS IN TROUBLE WITH AN ILLEGITIMATE LEADER, BOE UR HEAD IN SHAME

  11. Mr OBJ only God will judge you, you will not escape the rot of God, when do you know that is leader that rundown the country are you not a leader? what happen in your regimes which leader who and how, your generation will surfer you evil doing fork you.