Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, insisted on Friday that the nation won’t progress in direction of attaining its targets until each leaders and residents embrace what he termed “ethical rearmament.”
He additionally warned that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder keg that would explode if the nation fails to take brave and decisive steps to deal with its quite a few challenges.
Obasanjo described Nigeria as a nation that takes two steps ahead, one step apart, and 4 steps backward.
He deemed the calls for of #EndBadGovernance protesters as very legit, stating that the federal government ought to heed the folks’s grievances and stop pretending that every one is properly.
Obasanjo made these remarks when he acquired six members of the Home of Representatives, who’re co-sponsors of payments proposing a single six-year time period, rotation of the presidency between the North and South, and rotation of governorship slots among the many three senatorial districts of every of the 36 states.
The legislators visited Obasanjo at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
The lawmakers 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 succeeding governments have didn’t construct on the muse he established, leading to important setbacks for the nation.
He stated, “As I’ve warned earlier, we must always recognise that we’re all sitting on a powder keg if we fail to start doing the appropriate factor. For example, what the youth are demanding may be very legit and must be listened to. Why ought to they be denied what rightfully belongs to them?
“They’re annoyed, they’re hungry, they’re indignant, they’re unemployed, and so they should be heard.”
Talking additional, he stated, “Greater than anything, equivalent to altering our system of presidency or adopting a single time period of six or 4 years, we should change our methods of doing issues. We should reform our pondering and character.
“I want that succeeding governments had constructed upon the muse we laid, even when not as shortly as hoped, however sadly, the blocks we put in place are being eliminated.
“What I find out about Nigeria is that if we get it proper — each management and group — as a result of one tree doesn’t make a forest, you want a very good chief but additionally a very good group for a well-done job.
“If we get it proper in about two and a half years, we may overcome some challenges, and in about ten years, we might have a strong basis. In about 25 years, we could possibly be there.
“However we all the time take one step ahead, two steps apart, and 4 steps backward, which is why we’re the place we’re.
“For me, it’s not simply in regards to the system; we could must rethink our liberal democracy. In Africa, we frequently speak about loyal opposition, however what we do is attain a consensus, after which there is no such thing as a opposition; everyone seems to be on the identical web page and strikes collectively.
“In lots of African languages, the phrase for opposition interprets to ‘enemies.’ What do you do with loyal enemies? As soon as you are taking energy, you declare every part, and the opposition is left within the wilderness. This method isn’t helpful. We’d like everybody to affix arms to advance society.
“Our major downside is ourselves. Whether or not we undertake a single time period of six years or two phrases of 4 years, if we keep the identical mentality and method, nothing will change.
“The actual concern is ourselves. Sure, the system wants rethinking, however the character of individuals in authorities should change. With all due respect, many in authorities ought to presently be behind bars or on the gallows.”