Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo delivered a scathing critique of the country’s current leadership on Friday, stating that many leaders should be behind bars or even facing execution rather than holding public office. Obasanjo made these remarks while addressing six lawmakers from the House of Representatives.
In his address, Obasanjo underscored the need to consider the character of leaders when choosing those who will govern. He argued that without a fundamental shift in the mentality of those in power, Nigeria will continue to face the same issues and fail to achieve the desired change.
“Our main problem is ourselves,” Obasanjo said. “Until we address our issues, we may experience one term of four years, one of six years, or one of seven years, but if the same people with the same mentality continue to govern, there will be no real change.”
The former president called for a reevaluation of democracy and governance, focusing on the character and attributes of leaders. He suggested that many current leaders, in his view, should be imprisoned or face even harsher consequences. “With all due respect, most of them should be behind bars, and some should even be on the gallows,” Obasanjo stated.
He emphasized the importance of selecting leaders who are role models with a proven track record of integrity. “We need to think deeply about how we select our leaders, their character, and where we can find them,” he said. “What should be their track record? Are they role models?”
The lawmakers present during Obasanjo’s address 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.
