Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has opened up about an incident where he sacked his own daughter from his establishment due to lateness to work, emphasizing his stance on discipline and punctuality in the workplace.
Obasanjo made this revelation while addressing the new Chairman of the Board of Management of the Federal Medical Centre Idi-Aba in Abeokuta, Dr. Dayo Israel, during a meeting on Sunday. He used the story as an example to highlight the importance of maintaining high workplace standards regardless of personal relationships.
According to Obasanjo, the decision to dismiss his daughter sent a strong message to his employees, reinforcing a culture of accountability and fairness. He explained that his strict approach instilled a sense of discipline in his workforce, as they realized that even his own daughter was not exempt from the rules.
While advising the newly appointed leadership, Obasanjo urged them to be prepared for challenges and to make firm decisions when necessary, even if it meant stepping on toes. He stressed that effective leadership often requires taking tough actions in order to ensure discipline and efficiency within an organization.
He recounted, “If you’re doing a job and you’re not stepping on toes, then you’re not effective.”
Obasanjo then shared the full details of the incident involving his daughter. He revealed that after leaving office as Head of State, his first daughter, who was then a student at the University of Ibadan studying Veterinary Medicine, was engaged at his farm during her long vacation to gain practical experience.
On her first day, she arrived at work at 7:15 a.m. instead of the expected 7:00 a.m. Obasanjo said he immediately issued her a warning, reminding her that she had a duty to set a good example for other workers. He made it clear that he would not tolerate lateness and would not hesitate to take disciplinary action if she repeated the mistake.
However, to his amazement, his daughter arrived late again the following day. Without hesitation, he sent her back home right from the gate, enforcing the same standard he applied to all employees. He reiterated that his strict action served as a powerful lesson to everyone working under him, reinforcing the importance of punctuality and responsibility.
“Not surprisingly, this had an indescribable effect on all my employees. They asked themselves, ‘If Baba could do this to his daughter, who are we?’” Obasanjo stated, emphasizing that leaders must lead by example in order to earn the respect and commitment of their subordinates.