FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has described Nigeria as a cemetery for policies.
He said the nation had abundant requisite policies for prosperity, but expressed regret that many of those policies remained unimplemented for decades.
Obasanjo stated these while serving as the special guest of honour at the Olusegun Obasanjo Space Centre in Abuja during the 8th Brig. Gen. (rtd) Micheal Agu Annual Distinguished Lecture and Awards organised by the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers.
The event had the theme, “Nigeria’s 21 Years in Space 2003-2024: Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects.”
He stated that it was insufficient for leaders to merely have policies or make statements without backing them with actions.
“Those who make progress achieved progress, not based on wishing to make progress, but on taking actions. They do not take two steps forward and three steps backwards.
“Regrettably, this is what we are doing in every aspect of our national life. And as long as we are doing things this way, progress will elude us. Let us carry the ones we can carry, we cannot be a jack of all trades and master of none.”
He noted that when his administration established the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), more than 100 Nigerian engineers were sent to China for training in various fields and specialisations.
He explained further that his administration planned to launch Nigeria’s first satellite in space with the support of China, followed by a second satellite created in collaboration with China, and a third satellite that would be exclusively made by Nigeria.
He expressed disappointment that progress on the plans stalled, stressing that at one point, NASRDA struggled to pay its workers.
The former leader received an award as Grand Commander of Nigerian Space Exploration from the event organisers.
The ICIR reports that Obasanjo has been very critical of some of the presidents who took over power after him.
He has at various time written letters to those leaders or verbally condemned some of their policies.
In May, this year, The ICIR reported how he criticised the suspension of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
He also frowned at some of Tinubu’s policies, which he said were wrongly executed.
Fatimah Quadri is a Journalist and a Fact-checker at The ICIR. She has written news articles, fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy in an effort to combat information disorder.
She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or fquadri@icirnigeria.org
I guess Obasanjo is the caretaker for the cemetery called Nigeria.