We need to do things differently for Nigeria to work — Obasanjo

Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, insisted that the nation cannot progress without changes in the way governance is administered.

He made this statement on Friday while hosting six lawmakers from the House of Representatives, led by Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga, representing the Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State.

Other lawmakers in attendance were Honourables Abdulmalik Danga (representing Adavi/Okehi), Dr. Usman Midala (Askira-Uba/Hawul), Hon. Peter Aniekwe (Anambra East/West), and Kama Nkemkanma (Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo) federal constituencies.

The former president stated that the nation’s challenges would be overcome if Nigerians critically re-examined themselves and consistently did the right thing.

Obasanjo noted that the lawmakers’ calls for a single-term presidency, nationwide elections on one day, and power rotation between the North and South were not sufficient to put the nation on the right track.

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

“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.

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.

“For me, it’s not just about the system; we need to rethink what we call democracy. We need to reconsider the Western Liberal Democracy model, where we talk about loyal opposition.

“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 former president added.

Obasanjo further stated that Nigerians should elect leaders with proven pedigree and character capable of addressing the nation’s myriad challenges.

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He insisted that Nigeria will only progress when upright individuals and good role models are in positions of power, emphasizing that the number of terms spent in office is inconsequential if the wrong people are in leadership roles.

Ikenga, in his welcome remarks, said the lawmakers were in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to express their solidarity with the former president and to learn from his extensive knowledge on development and good governance.

The lawmaker commended Obasanjo for the various reforms implemented during his administration, blaming successive governments for failing to build on these reforms for the benefit 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.

If not for the foundation you laid in 1999, things would have been worse.

At that time, many did not see Nigeria’s future, but we can now see the impact of your efforts in telecommunications reform, civil service reforms, and the establishment of anti-corruption agencies,” he added.

Ikenga informed Obasanjo that the lawmakers were co-sponsors of bills seeking a single six-year term for the president and governors, power rotation between the northern and southern parts of the country, and a single day for presidential, governorship, national assembly, and state assembly elections, to eliminate bandwagon effects.