State of the Nation: Obasanjo speaks after closed-door meeting with NASS members

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday said the country can only progress when those in power change their mentality and critically re-examine themselves.

Obasanjo also described Nigeria as a country that takes two steps forward and two steps backward.

The former President spoke while receiving six lawmakers from the House of Representatives, led by Ugochinyere Ikenga, Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State.

Other lawmakers in attendance were Abdulmalik Danga, Adavi/Okehi, Usman Midala, Askira-Uba/Hawul, Peter Aniekwe, Anambra East/West, and Kama Nkemkanma, Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo.

Obasanjo noted that the lawmakers’ calls for a single-term Presidency, one-day countrywide elections and power rotation between the North and South were insufficient to set the country on the right path.

He said purposeful leadership and a solid team are the only factors capable of driving positive development in the country.

Obadanjo said, “What I know about Nigeria is that we need to get it right in terms of leadership and the team. The point is that, within two and a half years, we can overcome these challenges.”

He warned that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder that might blow up at any moment if the country’s leaders do not take bold and immediate action to address numerous problems.

“In another 10 years, we need to consolidate what we have achieved, and in 25 years, we will be there. Our problem is that we take two steps forward and probably two steps backward, and that won’t get us anywhere.

“In the African system, we typically work through consensus. We need to join hands to make things work. If we get it right, whether we have a single six-year term Presidency or two four-year terms, we need to work on our mentality.

“We have to decarbonize our brains. Our main problem is ourselves. Until we address our own issues, the length of office terms won’t matter.

“If the same people with the same mentality are in power, nothing will change. Our starting point is ourselves,” the ex-President added.

In his remarks, Ikenga said the lawmakers were in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to consult the former president and take advantage of his wealth of experience in development and good administration.

The legislator praised Obasanjo for the various reforms he brought about during his administration and accused succeeding governments of not expanding on his achievements for the good of Nigerians.

“If there had been consolidation of electricity reforms, foreign policies, civil service reforms and digital reforms by successive governments, we would not be facing the economic challenges we are today,” the lawmaker said.