A former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, says the socioeconomic and political situations in the country have remained stagnant because of leadership deficit, concluding that the only way out is for “self-centred” leaders to give way.
He spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Saturday as Special Guest of Honour at the Leadership Empowerment International Conference, where 25 distinguished Nigerians were conferred with honorary Doctorate in leadership by a South Africa-based Immanuel Theology Institute International in affiliation with Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative Inc.
According to him, for Nigeria to progress from its present dilemma, the present crops of those he labelled “self-centred leaders” occupying offices at all levels of governance must loosen their hold on the country.
He said the country is presently plagued at all levels by a band of self-centred leaders who are deficit of knowledge, bereft of understanding and demonstrating a leadership style that does not see service as the centrepiece for development.
He challenged Nigerians to seek, by all means possible, an end to the culture of enthroning transactional leaders as against transformational leaders who will deliver good governance.
“There is no end to leadership and service to your community until you breathe the last. And you can never be too old to be a leader and to give something to the community in which you lead and serve as a leader, to serve your state, your country, the continent and the world,” he said
“And if you ask me in one word, what is the bane of Nigeria today? I will not think about it twice. I will say it is leadership. Leadership that is self-centred, leadership that is a deficit of knowledge and understanding and leadership that does not see service as the centrepiece of what leadership is all about.
“If we can get the leadership right, we will get all other things right. This is what LEIC is doing that is commendable and very good. We must encourage and inculcate good leadership into every level of our national life.”
Obasanjo commended the International Coordinator of Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative incorporated, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, and the President of the South Africa–based Institute, Prof. Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, for recognising and encouraging some Nigerians with leadership capacities.
Earlier, the International Coordinator of the organization, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, who spoke on the theme of the conference “Responsible and responsive leadership,” lamented the dearth of good leaders, saying it remains the bane of Nigeria’s under-development for almost 64 years after Independence.
Among those honoured with doctorate awards were three former Commissioners in Ogun State, Engr. Anthony Ojeshina, Hon. Kehinde Sogunle and Hon. Dele Obadina, as well as erstwhile State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Joju Fadairo and a former Director, Central Bank of Nigeria, Engr. Oluwatoyin Jokosenumi.
