Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, aged 88, expressed urgency for Nigeria’s transformation, stating, “I am in a hurry to see a new Nigeria. Because my time is near,” during a speech at the 2025 Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation Leadership Summit in Abeokuta on August 23, 2025. Addressing the nation’s youth and leaders, Obasanjo decried pervasive corruption and incompetence in governance, urging a collective push for systemic change to address Nigeria’s economic and security challenges. He emphasized that Nigeria’s potential remains stifled by self-inflicted leadership failures.
Obasanjo, who served as military head of state from 1976 to 1979 and civilian president from 1999 to 2007, highlighted the need for selfless leadership to tackle issues like poverty and banditry, drawing from his experience overseeing Nigeria’s democratic transition in 1979. He called on young Nigerians to demand accountability, warning that time is running out for meaningful reform. “We have thieves in charge of the Nigerian government today,” he said, a sentiment echoed online, some praising his candor, others debating his own legacy.
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