By Abeokuta, Nigeria – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made a scathing critique of Nigeria’s leadership, suggesting that many of those holding public office should be behind bars. Speaking on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a visit by members of the House of Representatives, Obasanjo expressed deep concerns about the character and conduct of current leaders.
The lawmakers, alongside co-sponsors of a bill proposing a six-year single-term for presidents and rotation between the North and South, were in Abeokuta to consult with the former President at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. The visit was led by Ugo Chinyere, a former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Downstream Petroleum.
Obasanjo did not hold back in his assessment. “So, the very beginning is ourselves, yes system, yes we have to rethink our democracy but the character of people in government must change. With all due respect, most of those in government should right now be behind bars or in gallows,” he declared.
The former President also lamented that successive governments had failed to build upon the foundation he had laid during his time in office. He emphasized that the true problem lies not just in the system but in the mentality and behavior of those in power.
The issue for me is if we get it right whether we have a single term of six years or two terms of four years is that we must decarbonize our brains and mentality,” Obasanjo stated.
He argued that whether a leader serves a single term of six years or two terms of four years, the critical issue is the quality of leadership. “Look if you give him a period of a single term of six years, he can go ahead and still do the evil he would have done in a case of two terms of four years. The only difference is that he would have done that within the period of six years and not four years and that is if he is not reelected for another four years.”
Obasanjo further stressed that the root of Nigeria’s problems is not the length of terms in office but the need for a fundamental change in leadership mentality. “To me, this is not our problem.
Our main problem is ourselves and until we take care of ourselves, if we like let us adopt a single term of six years, one term of four years among others with the same mentality and same way of doing things, nothing will change,” Obasanjo concluded.
His remarks have sparked discussions about the quality of governance in Nigeria and the need for a more principled and accountable leadership.
