Former President Olusegun Obasanjo expressed disappointment in Nigeria’s failure to meet expectations since gaining independence 63 years ago.
He emphasised that the country’s underperformance has not only let itself down, but also Africa and the global community.
Obasanjo revealed this during his keynote speech at the public launch of the book titled ‘Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa,’ authored by Olusegun Aganga, a former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and Minister of Finance.
President Bola Tinubu presented the book through Olawale Edun, his Special Advisor on Monetary Policy. Senior government officials from the past and present attended in huge numbers at the Abuja event where former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Obasanjo delivered virtual speeches.
In his address at the programme, Obasanjo said, “Over the last 63 years, we have not lived up to expectations. We have disappointed ourselves; we have disappointed Africa; we have disappointed the black race; and we have disappointed the world.”
He, however, stated that “what Segun (Aganga) has tried to identify, itemise and recommend in his book is the way forward.
“But the beginning of charting a new course for ourselves is to admit our failure because we have not always put the round peg in the round hole.
“We are carried along by ego and emotion of self, selfishness and self-centeredness, ethnic and religious jingoism, with total lack of understanding of the world we live in and gross misunderstanding of what development entails and how to move fast and continuously on the trajectory of development.”
The former President also identified two significant concerns that were interconnected in terms of elements for overall development.
“These are peace and security, which we cannot achieve without justice, equity and inclusive society. And telling ourselves the truth, we have not done well on these scores in the recent past—in the last decade and a half.
“I will also point at the issue of education, where over 20 million children that should be in school are not in school. We do not need an oracle to tell us the consequences of that for tomorrow,” Obasanjo stated.
“I will also point at the issue of education, where over 20 million children that should be in school are not in school. We do not need an oracle to tell us the consequences of that for tomorrow,” Obasanjo stated.
He stated that youth skill acquisition, empowerment, and employment appear to be disregarded or underappreciated.
“We are living dangerously on a keg of gunpowder, driving more people into poverty through good policies poorly and thoughtlessly implemented or bad policy and no policy at all,” he stated.