Obasanjo blames Nigeria’s woes on self-centered leadership

August 19, 2024
By Adedoja Adesoji

The Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said Nigeria would have significantly improved and gained global recognition if not for its issue of self-serving leadership.

He made these remarks on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the 2024 Leadership Empowerment International Conference.

The conference included the awarding of Doctor of Leadership and Theology degrees to several Nigerians by the South African-based Immanuel Theology Institute International in collaboration with the Nigerian Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative Inc.

According to Obasanjo, Nigeria’s leaders are hindered by two major issues: self-interest and a deficiency in knowledge

“There is no end to leadership and community service until your last breath. One can never be too old to lead and contribute to the community, whether at the state, national, continental, or global level.

“If asked to sum up Nigeria’s biggest issue in one word, it would be leadership. It’s leadership that is self-centered, lacks knowledge and understanding, and doesn’t prioritize service as the core of what leadership entails.

“Getting leadership right will rectify all other issues. This is what Prof. Olusesi Obateye is commendably working towards. We must promote and embed effective leadership at every level of our national life,” Obasanjo stated.

Obasanjo praised Prof. Olusesi Obateye, the International Coordinator of the Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative, and Prof. Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, the President of the South African institute, for recognizing and encouraging Nigerians with leadership potential.

Earlier, Obateye, who addressed the conference on “Responsible and Responsive Leadership,” lamented the scarcity of effective leaders, attributing Nigeria’s underdevelopment to this issue even after 64 years of independence.

In a related matter, Obasanjo noted that Nigeria’s challenges would persist until the country achieves self-sufficiency in food production.

He made this comment during a visit from a delegation from Niger State, including commissioners and Special Advisers to Governor Mohammed Bago, who met him at his home in Abeokuta over the weekend.

Governor Bago’s Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, conveyed this in a press statement on Sunday.

“The former President expressed admiration for Bago’s initiative, comparing it to his own ‘Operation Feed the Nation’ policy from 1976. He pointed out that with modern technology, such initiatives can have even greater impacts today.

“Obasanjo emphasized the importance of agricultural self-sufficiency, stating, ‘Until Nigeria begins to feed itself, the challenges facing the country will persist. A nation that cannot feed itself is sitting on a time bomb.’

“He urged other governors to follow Niger State’s example in agricultural development to enable Nigeria to produce most of its own food,” Wakaso said.

The Special Adviser also mentioned that Obasanjo encouraged Niger State to continue investing in agriculture and explore modern techniques to improve existing practices. He expressed a desire to visit Niger State with his team to learn from their progress and share ideas to enhance his own agricultural efforts.

“Obasanjo also advised Nigerians to consider soilless farming, warning that current land usage rates could lead to a shortage of arable land. He stressed that innovative farming methods are crucial for sustaining the nation’s agricultural productivity,” she added.