FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned Nigerian leaders of the urgent need for reform and to address the legitimate grievances of the nation’s youth.
Speaking during a visit by six members of the House of Representatives to his library, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta on Friday, August 9, Obasanjo expressed deep concern over the current state of affairs in Nigeria, describing it as a “powder keg” ready to explode if the right steps are not taken.
The House of Representatives members include Abdulmalik Danga from Kogi, Usman Midala from Borno, Matthew Nwogu from Imo, Peter Aniekwe from Anambra, Kama Nkemkanma from Ebonyi, and Ugochinyere Ikenga from Imo.
The lawmakers are co-sponsoring bills proposing a single six-year term, rotation of the presidency between the North and South, and rotation of governorship slots among the three senatorial districts of each of the 36 states.
Addressing his guests, the former president noted that the country would not achieve its goals unless the leaders and other citizens embraced what he termed “moral rearmament.”
While acknowledging the legitimacy of the demands of youths currently protesting against poor governance in the nation, he stated that the citizens’ frustration and anger were justified due to unemployment, hunger, and the denial of opportunities.
He added that the government should listen to the people’s grievances and cease pretending that all is well.
Highlighting the need for fundamental change, Obasanjo criticised the inconsistency in governance and the failure to build upon past foundations laid during his tenure.
He lamented the regression in national development efforts, attributing it to the removal of critical building blocks.
He said, “As I have warned earlier, we should recognise that we are all sitting on a powder keg if we fail to begin doing the right thing. For instance, what the youth are demanding is very legitimate and should be listened to. Why should they be denied what rightfully belongs to them?
“They are frustrated, they are hungry, they are angry, they are unemployed, and they deserve to be heard.”
Obasanjo also proposed a re-evaluation of Nigeria’s democratic structure, beyond changing the country’s system of government to thinking and character change.
“More than anything else, such as changing our system of government or adopting a single term of six or four years, we must change our ways of doing things. We must reform our thinking and character.”
He added that if the country gets it right, the nation could overcome some of the challenges in about 10 years, adding that it will give the country a solid foundation for development.
He further described Nigeria as a nation that takes two steps forward, one step aside, and four steps backwards.
“For me, it is not just about the system; we may need to rethink our liberal democracy. In Africa, we often talk about loyal opposition, but what we do is reach a consensus, and then there is no opposition; everyone is on the same page and moves together.
“In many African languages, the word for opposition translates to ‘enemies.’ What do you do with loyal enemies? Once you take power, you claim everything, and the opposition is left in the wilderness. This approach is not beneficial. We need everyone to join hands to advance society,” he said.
He therefore called for a collective effort to overcome Nigeria’s challenges, urging current leaders to adopt a more inclusive and accountable governance style that prioritises national interest over personal gain.
“Our main problem is ourselves. Whether we adopt a single term of six years or two terms of four years, if we maintain the same mentality and approach, nothing will change.
“The real issue is ourselves. Yes, the system needs rethinking, but the character of people in government must change. With all due respect, many in government should currently be behind bars or on the gallows.”
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M