Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed unwavering optimism about Nigeria’s future, declaring himself an incurable optimist.
He made this assertion during the 26th edition of the BOILING POINT ARENA, a highly anticipated One-on-One live interview that drew participants from around the globe, convened Dr Ayo Arowojolu, a media professional with 34 years multi-varied work career spanning the media, banking and education sectors.
Obasanjo believed that no matter the socioeconomic situation in the country, Nigeria shall be great and take its rightful place globally.
The two-hour programme, powered by three top Nigerian radio stations and London-based Ben Television, saw the former president share his unfiltered thoughts on governance and nation-building.
The radio stations are WASH 94.9FM, Lagos, Sweet 107.1FM, Abeokuta and Eagle 7 Radio 103.7FM, owned by legendary footballer, Dr Segun Odegbami.
Obasanjo, who held sway as elected president from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007, said unambiguous that he remains apolitical but only deeply concerned with good governance.
He suggested that for the fight against corruption to be successful, Nigeria will require a critical mass of committed citizens.
“A leader with bad character will buy everybody with money that plays an important role because the leader has entrenched poverty that will make the governed to fall for anything.
“Those who are collecting money from bad leaders to perpetrate corruption are only mortgaging their future and future of their children. We have to go back to the begining when communities express worries about the source of sudden wealth among the people. If the source of the wealth of an individual is in doubt, nobody cares to look in the direction of the person because he cannot be trusted,” said a one-time military Head of State (1976-1979).
He advocated moral rearmament and called on the leadership to fallback to the teachings of the books, saying that everybody is to be blamed as corruption continues to thrive in the country.
Reflecting on his prison experience, Obasanjo said his finding behind the walls among young prisoners showed that “everybody is to be blamed; the churches, the mosques, schools, communities, state and federal government, the entire world and the social media that does not also help the situation.”
He warned Nigerians to be wary of people that are professional politicians, saying they have always fallen for anything that comes through their ways, saying that the country needs transformational leaders as exemplified in Egypt and Rwanda.
On the qualities good leaders should possess, the former president said leadership positions should not be thrown at every Dick, Tom and Harry, saying records, background, and good character must be considered before appointing or electing a leader.
Obasanjo, who denied any involvement in the military coups led by Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Chukwuma ‘Kaduna’ Nzeogwu and the one that removed General Yakubu Gowon from office, revealed that information about Nzeogwu got to him after his return from overseas training and too late for him to do anything meaningful while he appealed for bloodless takeover in Gowon’s removal.
Oba (Prof.) Saka Matemilola, a foremost traditional ruler in Ogun State, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, who delivered the keynote address in his capacity as Chairman, Boiling Point Council of Royals and Elders, spoke glowingly about Obasanjo and later thanked him for providing insights into various issues bothering the minds of Nigerians.
BOILING POINT, a news and general interest Group comprises an array of eminent personalities including over 300 professors, technocrats, industry leaders, high court justices, traditional rulers, security top shots, media professionals, among others.
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