Ex-President Obasanjo reveals how a certain Nigerian president came into power without a plan

According to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s current challenges can be traced back to a lack of effective leadership, a problem he believes is widespread in Africa and particularly acute in Nigeria.

In a recent interview with Kayode Akintemi on News Central Television, Obasanjo expressed his concerns about the lack of strategic planning among some Nigerian leaders.

He specifically called out an unnamed Nigerian president for assuming office without a clear plan, pointing out that policies are often implemented without adequate research or preparation, a clear indication of insufficient leadership.

Obasanjo said: “I will say, at this point in time, generally there’s a leadership deficit in the world. Otherwise, the situation we have found ourselves in should not be the position we are in. Unfortunately, in Africa, and in Nigeria in particular, we take two steps forward, one step sideways, and take two or three steps backward. That can’t take us far. Leadership is something we should pay attention to.

“What do you say of a Nigerian President who came to office without a plan? And he woke up and just said, ‘three-point plan.’ What are the three points? What are they going to achieve? Who are the people who have worked on it? Oh, you just come and open your mouth and make a pronouncement on something that hasn’t been studied.

“Let me again give you an example: when I was military Head of State, we decided to really be part of the frontline states to fight the last vestiges of colonialism and apartheid.

“And we were determined. So, as a result of our policy, pronouncements, and determination, we became known as members of the frontline states, even though we were a thousand kilometers from the frontline. And we decided that we must do what needed to be done. We worked with the frontline states.”