Why Nigeria Remains Backward – Ex-President, Obasanjo Reveals

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed his belief that the country’s socioeconomic and political stagnation can be attributed to a leadership deficit.

Obasanjo made these remarks in Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State, on Saturday as a Special Guest of Honour at the Leadership Empowerment International Conference (LEIC).

During the event, 25 distinguished Nigerians received honorary Doctorate degrees in leadership from a South Africa-based Immanuel Theology Institute International, in affiliation with Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative Inc.

Speaking, Obasanjo emphasized that for Nigeria to move forward from its current challenges, it is imperative for the current “self-centred leaders” in positions across all levels of government to relinquish their grip on the nation.

He highlighted the country’s current struggles, which are being exacerbated by a group of leaders lacking knowledge, understanding, and a leadership style that prioritizes service over development.

He called on the Nigerian people to actively seek an end to the practice of electing transactional leaders over transformational leaders who are better equipped to deliver effective governance.

The former President said: “There is no end to leadership and service to your community until you breathe the last. And you can never be too old to be a leader and to give something to the community in which you lead and serve as a leader, to serve your state, your country, the continent and the world.

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“And if you ask me in one word, what is the bane of Nigeria today? I will not think about it twice. I will say it is leadership. Leadership that is self-centred, leadership that is a deficit of knowledge and understanding and leadership that does not see service as the centrepiece of what leadership is all about.

“If we can get the leadership right, we will get all other things right. This is what LEIC is doing that is commendable and very good. We must encourage and inculcate good leadership into every level of our national life.”

Obasanjo praised the International Coordinator of the Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, and the President of the South Africa-based Institute, Prof. Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, for their recognition and encouragement of Nigerian leaders with leadership potential.

Earlier, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, the International Coordinator of the organization, who addressed the conference on the theme of “Responsible and Responsive Leadership,” expressed his concern over the shortage of effective leaders, noting that this has been a persistent obstacle to Nigeria’s development for nearly 64 years since Independence.

The conference also saw the conferring of doctorate awards on several distinguished individuals. Among them were three former Commissioners in Ogun State, Engr. Anthony Ojeshina, Hon. Kehinde Sogunle, and Hon. Dele Obadina, as well as the former State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Joju Fadairo, and a former Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Engr. Oluwatoyin Jokosenumi.