Abeokuta, Nigeria – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed deep concerns about Nigeria’s trajectory, attributing the nation’s challenges to self-centered and inadequately informed leadership. Speaking at the 2024 Leadership Empowerment International Conference held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo emphasized that Nigeria could have achieved a more prominent global standing if not for its leadership deficiencies.
During the conference, which also featured the conferment of Doctor of Leadership and Theology awards by the South African-based Immanuel Theology Institute International, Obasanjo highlighted the persistent issue of self-centered leaders who lack the knowledge and understanding necessary to steer the nation toward progress.
“If you asked 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-centered, leadership that is a deficit in knowledge and understanding, and leadership that does not see service as the centerpiece of what leadership is all about,” Obasanjo stated.
He further underscored the importance of leadership at all levels of society, noting that effective leadership is crucial to addressing Nigeria’s myriad challenges. Obasanjo commended Prof. Olusesi Obateye, the International Coordinator of Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative, and Prof. Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, President of the South African institute, for recognizing and encouraging Nigerians with leadership potential.
Earlier in the event, Prof. Obateye spoke on the theme “Responsible And Responsive Leadership,” lamenting the scarcity of good leaders as a key factor in Nigeria’s underdevelopment nearly 64 years after gaining independence.
In a related development, Obasanjo also touched on the critical issue of food security during a visit from a delegation of Niger State officials, including commissioners and special advisers to Governor Mohammed Bago. The delegation was welcomed at Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta over the weekend.
Governor Bago’s Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, revealed in a statement that Obasanjo praised the governor’s agricultural initiatives, likening them to his own “Operation Feed the Nation” policy from 1976. Obasanjo stressed that Nigeria’s problems would remain unresolved until the country achieves self-sufficiency in food production.
“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,” Obasanjo warned, urging other state governors to prioritize agricultural development.
He further advised Nigerians to explore innovative farming techniques, such as soilless farming, to counter the potential shortage of arable land, stressing the need for sustainable practices to secure the nation’s agricultural future.
