Former President Olusegun Obasanjo emphasizes the need for unity among Nigerians to achieve the country’s full potential.
Obasanjo highlights the importance of justice, equity, and fairness for Nigeria to attain greatness.
The former leader also emphasizes the need for the right kind of leaders for Nigeria to become better.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians to unite and work together towards the progress of the country. He emphasized that every citizen of Nigeria is unique and has the potential to excel individually, but it is necessary to harness this potential for the benefit of the nation.
Obasanjo highlighted the importance of justice, equity, and fairness for Nigeria to attain greatness.
He added that without these values, no country can achieve its full potential. The former President warned that if Nigeria fails to live up to its expectations, every stakeholder should be held accountable.
Speaking as the keynote speaker at the National Daily Awards in Lagos, Obasanjo also compared the leadership of the immediate post-independence era to the present day.
He noted that the earlier leaders of Nigeria performed better because they were determined to make the right decisions for the country.
Obasanjo emphasized the need for the right kind of leaders for Nigeria to become better. He pointed out that making Nigeria a better place is directly linked to having the right leaders in place.
The former leader also questioned whether the values of Nigerians have changed and what the country represents today.
According to Obasanjo, peace, security, and stability are essential ingredients for the development and growth of any country.
He stated that it is time for Nigerians to unite and work towards making the country the best it can be.
He warned that if they fail to do so, their existence would be useless, and they would not leave behind a better society.
In conclusion, Obasanjo’s message to Nigerians is that they must work together, prioritize justice and equity, and choose the right kind of leaders to make Nigeria a great nation.
Obasanjo in his word: “In fact, in making choices of leaders, I will say Nigerians of post-independence make the right choices of leaders. We all know that if your choice is right, the performance and consequences will be right.”
“When the then Prime Minister went to the United Nations post-independence, the world referred to Nigeria as a giant in the sun, not even a giant of Africa.
“But the question is, have we lived up to that? If we have not, the question is why? Are there certain qualities that leaders in the post-independence era had that are absent in leadership today? We talk about values, have our values changed? What is Nigeria today, and what is the Nigeria we want? How do we get the Nigeria we want?”
“Over a long period of my life in peacemaking and mediation, I have come to realize that peace, security, and stability are essential ingredients for the development and growth of any country. Without justice, equity, and fairness, no country can attain greatness.
“When you look at us individually, there is something unique about Nigerians. Wherever they go, they excel individually. Today, when you look globally, Nigerians are doing great things individually. It’s time for us to unite and take the country to where it’s supposed to be.
“If we fail to do so, then our existence is useless. We need to make a difference so that we can leave behind a better society.”