Only ‘popular movement’ can rescue Nigeria —Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo reaffirmed his anti-President
Muhammadu Buhari battle yesterday in Lagos when he said only a
popular movement can enthrone a progressive leadership required to
make Nigeria a great country in Africa.

He said Nigeria had disappointed Africa in providing needed
leadership in post-military era.

Although, the ex-president did not specifically mention any
regime, he said the nation deserved a better leadership to enable
it play a front role in Africa’s socio-economic growth. He said the
way out of the development quagmire is for the masses to form
non-partisan “popular movement” that would serve as a credible
alternative.

The former president spoke yesterday at the 15th Lecture and
International Leadership Symposium with the theme: Leadership and
Performance in Africa: The Challenge of the Continent’s Economic
Competitiveness, organised by Centre for Value Leadership (CVL) at
Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

CVL is a leadership think-tank founded by Prof. Pat Utomi.

Obasanjo said: “The first generation of leaders in this country,
whatever you say about them, gave us independence. They helped in
the transition from colonial power to indigenous leadership. Within
their knowledge, their experience and exposure, these first
generation of leaders did their best. But then, they made mistake,
which led to the transition to the military era. Later, there was
another transition to democracy.

The ex-president also said security matter should not be
politicised or treated as emotional issue, noting that insecurity
does not recognise anyone’s emotion or cultural beliefs. Obasanjo
said he disagreed with a statement credited to former United States
(U.S.) President Barack Obama, who said Africa needed to build
strong institutions and not strong men.

“I believe we need both strong institutions and strong leaders.
If there are no strong leaders, we will not be able to build strong
institutions. If strong institutions are established and our
leaders are weak, those strong institutions will collapse,”
Obasanjo said.

In a special statement last month, Obasanjo discredited the two
main political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He went ahead to form the
Coalition for Nigeria Movement.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo reaffirmed his anti-President
Muhammadu Buhari battle yesterday in Lagos when he said only a
popular movement can enthrone a progressive leadership required to
make Nigeria a great country in Africa.

He said Nigeria had disappointed Africa in providing needed
leadership in post-military era.

Although, the ex-president did not specifically mention any
regime, he said the nation deserved a better leadership to enable
it play a front role in Africa’s socio-economic growth. He said the
way out of the development quagmire is for the masses to form
non-partisan “popular movement” that would serve as a credible
alternative.

The former president spoke yesterday at the 15th Lecture and
International Leadership Symposium with the theme: Leadership and
Performance in Africa: The Challenge of the Continent’s Economic
Competitiveness, organised by Centre for Value Leadership (CVL) at
Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

CVL is a leadership think-tank founded by Prof. Pat Utomi.

Obasanjo said: “The first generation of leaders in this country,
whatever you say about them, gave us independence. They helped in
the transition from colonial power to indigenous leadership. Within
their knowledge, their experience and exposure, these first
generation of leaders did their best. But then, they made mistake,
which led to the transition to the military era. Later, there was
another transition to democracy.

The ex-president also said security matter should not be
politicised or treated as emotional issue, noting that insecurity
does not recognise anyone’s emotion or cultural beliefs. Obasanjo
said he disagreed with a statement credited to former United States
(U.S.) President Barack Obama, who said Africa needed to build
strong institutions and not strong men.

“I believe we need both strong institutions and strong leaders.
If there are no strong leaders, we will not be able to build strong
institutions. If strong institutions are established and our
leaders are weak, those strong institutions will collapse,”
Obasanjo said.

In a special statement last month, Obasanjo discredited the two
main political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He went ahead to form the
Coalition for Nigeria Movement.