NIGERIA HAS FAILED AFRICA, ENTIRE BLACK RACE & THE WORLD - OBASANJO

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By Oduola F.A.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday stirred significant waves with his speech after bluntly lamenting the nation’s failure to live up to expectations since gaining independence 63 years ago.

Speaking at the public presentation of the book titled ‘Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa,’ authored by former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, Obasanjo didn’t hold back, stating that Nigeria’s letdown has been felt not only within its borders but also reverberates across the African continent and the global stage.

The book launch, held in Abuja, witnessed a notable gathering of past and present senior government officials, with President Bola Tinubu represented by his Special Adviser on Monetary Policy, Olawale Edun. During the virtual event, former President Goodluck Jonathan and Obasanjo delivered their speeches, addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges and opportunities for renewal.

Obasanjo said, “Over the last 63 years, we have not lived up to expectations. We have disappointed ourselves; we have disappointed Africa; we have disappointed the black race; and we have disappointed the world.”

He, however, stated, “what Segun (Aganga) has tried to identify, itemise and recommend in his book is the way forward.

“But the beginning of charting a new course for ourselves is to admit our failure because we have not always put the round peg in the round hole.

“We are carried along by ego and emotion of self, selfishness and self-centeredness, ethnic and religious jingoism, with total lack of understanding of the world we live in and gross misunderstanding of what development entails and how to move fast and continuously on the trajectory of development.”

Obasanjo identified two of the major issues that were interrelated in terms of factors for all-round development.

“These are peace and security, which we cannot achieve without justice, equity and inclusive society. And telling ourselves the truth, we have not done well on these scores in the recent past—in the last decade and a half.

“I will also point at the issue of education, where over 20 million children that should be in school are not in school. We do not need an oracle to tell us the consequences of that for tomorrow,” Obasanjo said.

The former President said the skill acquisition, empowerment and employment of youth would seem to be ignored or not appreciated.