Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a stark warning, stating that Nigeria is at risk of a major crisis unless its leaders and citizens adopt what he called “moral rearmament.”
He emphasized that the country will struggle to achieve its goals if bold and decisive actions are not taken to address the numerous challenges it faces.
Obasanjo likened Nigeria to a nation that takes two steps forward, one step aside, and four steps backward.
He also expressed strong support for the #EndBadGovernance protests, describing the protesters’ demands as entirely legitimate.
He urged the government to listen to the grievances of the people and stop pretending that all is well.
Obasanjo made these remarks during a meeting with six members of the House of Representatives at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
The lawmakers, who are co-sponsors of bills advocating a single six-year presidential term, the rotation of the presidency between the North and South, and the rotation of governorship slots among the three senatorial districts in each of the 36 states, visited him to seek his counsel.
The delegation included Abdulmalik Danga from Kogi, Dr. Usman Midala from Borno, Matthew Nwogu from Imo, Peter Aniekwe from Anambra, Kama Nkemkanma from Ebonyi, and Ugochinyere Ikenga from Imo.
Obasanjo lamented that successive governments have failed to build on the foundation he established, leading to significant setbacks for the country.
He reiterated his earlier warning that Nigeria is “sitting on a powder keg” if it does not begin to take the right actions.
The former president pointed out that the frustrations of the youth, who are demanding legitimate changes, should not be ignored.
“They are frustrated, hungry, angry, and unemployed, and they deserve to be heard,” he said.
He also stressed that beyond systemic changes, such as implementing a single six-year term, the country must undergo a fundamental transformation in the way it does things.
“More than anything, we must change our mindset and character. It’s not just about changing the system; it’s about changing ourselves,” he asserted.
Obasanjo expressed disappointment that the progress made during his tenure has been eroded, and he cautioned that Nigeria will continue to stagnate if it does not get both leadership and teamwork right.
He envisioned that if the right steps are taken, significant progress could be made in about 10 years, with a solid foundation laid in 25 years.
He also touched on the need to rethink Nigeria’s approach to democracy, pointing out that in many African languages, the word for “opposition” translates to “enemies,” which undermines the spirit of collaboration needed to move society forward.
Furthermore, Obasanjo highlighted the rampant corruption in the oil sector, which he said is a major reason why Nigeria’s refineries remain ineffective. He recalled how Shell declined his offer to take over the refineries during his administration due to the overwhelming level of corruption.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Ugochinyere Ikenga from Imo State acknowledged Obasanjo as one of the most respected voices in Africa.
He explained that the legislators are advocating for a bill that proposes a single six-year presidential term, a rotational presidency between the North and South, and the rotation of governorship slots among the three senatorial districts in each state to ensure fairness, equality, and justice.
