Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed Nigeria’s current issues to a global shortage of effective leadership, especially visible in Africa and acutely so in Nigeria. In a recent exclusive interview with Kayode Akintemi on News Central Television on Thursday, Obasanjo highlighted the lack of strategic planning among certain Nigerian leaders as a major concern that has contributed to the nation's struggles.
During the interview, he criticized an unnamed Nigerian president for taking office without a defined plan, expressing dismay at how policies are often announced without proper research or preparation. Obasanjo views this tendency as a significant sign of inadequate leadership that fails to address the pressing needs of the country and its people.
Obasanjo stated: “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.”
He further elaborated on his frustration, saying, “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.”
To provide context for his critique, Obasanjo shared an example from his time as military Head of State. He recounted, “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.”
Through this reflection, Obasanjo emphasized the importance of thoughtful and informed leadership, urging current leaders to adopt a more strategic and proactive approach to governance to effectively address the challenges facing Nigeria today.