NIGERIA BACKWARD BECAUSE OF SELF-CENTERED LEADERS – OBASANJO

download 12 5

NIGERIA BACKWARD BECAUSE OF SELF-CENTERED LEADERS – OBASANJO

A former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, says the socioeconomic and political situations in the country have remained stagnant because of leadership deficit, concluding that the only way out is for “self-centred” leaders to give way.

He spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Saturday as Special Guest of Honour at the Leadership Empowerment International Conference, where 25 distinguished Nigerians were conferred with honorary Doctorate in leadership by a South Africa-based Immanuel Theology Institute International in affiliation with Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative Inc.

According to him, for Nigeria to progress from its present dilemma, the present crops of those he labelled “self-centred leaders” occupying offices at all levels of governance must loosen their hold on the country.

He said the country is presently plagued at all levels by a band of self-centred leaders who are deficit of knowledge, bereft of understanding and demonstrating a leadership style that does not see service as the centrepiece for development.

He challenged Nigerians to seek, by all means possible, an end to the culture of enthroning transactional leaders as against transformational leaders who will deliver good governance.

“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,” he said

“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 commended the International Coordinator of Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative incorporated, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, and the President of the South Africa–based Institute, Prof. Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, for recognising and encouraging some Nigerians wit
leadership capacities.

Earlier, the International Coordinator of the organization, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, who spoke on the theme of the conference “Responsible and responsive leadership,” lamented the dearth of good leaders, saying it remains the bane of Nigeria’s under-development for almost 64 years after Independence.

Among those honoured with doctorate awards were three former Commissioners in Ogun State, Engr. Anthony Ojeshina, Hon. Kehinde Sogunle and Hon. Dele Obadina, as well as erstwhile State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Joju Fadairo and a former Director, Central Bank of Nigeria, Engr. Oluwatoyin Jokosenumi.

  • Dons Eze

    DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.

    Related Posts

    GANDUJE, EL-RUFAI SPARK ROW OVER 2027 TINUBU RETURN TICKET

    GANDUJE EL-RUFAI SPARK ROW OVER 2027 TINUBU RETURN TICKET The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, has come under attack from northern leaders and groups over his call on the North to bury any ambition of contesting the presidency in 2027. They accused him of working against the interest of the North just to please President Bola Tinubu. The controversy surrounding Ganduje’s statement highlights the complex dynamics of Nigerian politics, particularly regarding zoning and power rotation. As the country prepares for the 2027 presidential election, it remains to be seen how this debate will unfold. Ganduje had urged northern politicians nursing presidential ambition in 2027 to bury the idea, insisting that President Tinubu would serve two terms. Apparently reacting to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who, in a post on his verified X handle, threatened that in 2027, the North would give Tinubu the same treatment meted out to former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. But Ganduje, while hosting leaders and members of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre, PBAT Media Centre, and Tinubu Northern Youth Forum, TNYF, at APC National Secretariat in Abuja, said expectations that the North would produce the President in 2027 should be “perished.” “When a leader from the northern part of this country was in office for eight years, we advocated that the next president in our party should come from the South”, he stated. “And luckily enough, we worked very hard with the cooperation of Nigerians. Our President has come from the South and is going, insha’Allah, for a second term in 2027. And then after that, it will be turned to the northern part of this country”. ‘Dangerous precedent’The Middle Belt Forum, MBF, said the statement wasn’t surprising, adding that Ganduje was doing the bidding of his “benefactor.” National President of MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said: “It is a political statement, and he is representing the party. Whether he likes it or not, the President is the main man for the party, and the benefit he would get comes through the President. “So, whether he is from the North or wherever, he just has to support the President. It is, therefore, not surprising that, in spite of the Northern resistance for whatsoever reason, he is supporting the President, so it is not surprising. “However, there are things we need to learn from the behavior of the North. There is this thing they call ‘Takiya.’ It is a holy deceit. It is practiced in the North in some things. “So, what he says may not exactly be what he meant. So, let’s hope and believe that what he said was what he meant, and that was not a deceit aimed at appeasing those he wants to, with the intention of doing something else. “This is something our Southern brothers do not seem to know or understand. But for those of us in the North, when one of us says something, we weigh it properly based on the action that might follow.” ‘Disturbing questions’ On his part, National President of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said Ganduje’s position raised disturbing questions about Nigeria’s democracy. He said: “Ganduje’s call for politicians from the North to drop any ambition of contesting against Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election raises important questions about the principles of democracy and the right to political participation. “It is essential to analyze this statement in the context of democratic principles and the right to political participation. In a democratic society, every citizen has the right to contest for political office and present themselves as candidates for election. “This right is enshrined in the constitution and is a fundamental aspect of a functioning democracy. Ganduje’s call for politicians from the…

    GANDUJE, EL-RUFAI SPARK ROW OVER 2027 TINUBU RETURN TICKET

    GANDUJE, EL-RUFAI SPARK ROW OVER 2027 TINUBU RETURN TICKET The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, has come under attack from northern leaders and groups over his call on the North to bury any ambition of contesting the presidency in 2027. They accused him of working against the interest of the North just to please President Bola Tinubu. The controversy surrounding Ganduje’s statement highlights the complex dynamics of Nigerian politics, particularly regarding zoning and power rotation. As the country prepares for the 2027 presidential election, it remains to be seen how this debate will unfold. Ganduje had urged northern politicians nursing presidential ambition in 2027 to bury the idea, insisting that President Tinubu would serve two terms. Apparently reacting to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who, in a post on his verified X handle, threatened that in 2027, the North would give Tinubu the same treatment meted out to former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. But Ganduje, while hosting leaders and members of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre, PBAT Media Centre, and Tinubu Northern Youth Forum, TNYF, at APC National Secretariat in Abuja, said expectations that the North would produce the President in 2027 should be “perished.” “When a leader from the northern part of this country was in office for eight years, we advocated that the next president in our party should come from the South”, he stated. “And luckily enough, we worked very hard with the cooperation of Nigerians. Our President has come from the South and is going, insha’Allah, for a second term in 2027. And then after that, it will be turned to the northern part of this country”. ‘Dangerous precedent’The Middle Belt Forum, MBF, said the statement wasn’t surprising, adding that Ganduje was doing the bidding of his “benefactor.” National President of MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said: “It is a political statement, and he is representing the party. Whether he likes it or not, the President is the main man for the party, and the benefit he would get comes through the President. “So, whether he is from the North or wherever, he just has to support the President. It is, therefore, not surprising that, in spite of the Northern resistance for whatsoever reason, he is supporting the President, so it is not surprising. “However, there are things we need to learn from the behavior of the North. There is this thing they call ‘Takiya.’ It is a holy deceit. It is practiced in the North in some things. “So, what he says may not exactly be what he meant. So, let’s hope and believe that what he said was what he meant, and that was not a deceit aimed at appeasing those he wants to, with the intention of doing something else. “This is something our Southern brothers do not seem to know or understand. But for those of us in the North, when one of us says something, we weigh it properly based on the action that might follow.” ‘Disturbing questions’ On his part, National President of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said Ganduje’s position raised disturbing questions about Nigeria’s democracy. He said: “Ganduje’s call for politicians from the North to drop any ambition of contesting against Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election raises important questions about the principles of democracy and the right to political participation. “It is essential to analyze this statement in the context of democratic principles and the right to political participation. In a democratic society, every citizen has the right to contest for political office and present themselves as candidates for election. “This right is enshrined in the constitution and is a fundamental aspect of a functioning democracy. Ganduje’s call for politicians from the…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    CATHOLIC PRIEST, TWO OTHERS FREED AFTER FOUR DAYS IN CAPTIVITY

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 16, 2025
    • 27 views

    POLICE INSPECTOR DEAD IN OGUN HOTEL, FEMALE COMPANION FLEES SCENE

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 16, 2025
    • 58 views

    TINUBU SETS BALL OF SOUTH EAST DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ROLLING AS OKOYE PILOTS AFFAIR

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 16, 2025
    • 60 views

    GANDUJE, EL-RUFAI SPARK ROW OVER 2027 TINUBU RETURN TICKET

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 16, 2025
    • 42 views

    GANDUJE, EL-RUFAI SPARK ROW OVER 2027 TINUBU RETURN TICKET

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 16, 2025
    • 15 views

    PDP CRISIS ESCALATES AS POLICE TOLD TO INVESTIGATE ALI ODEFA, UDEH-OKOYE OVER FORGERY

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 16, 2025
    • 43 views