On Tuesday, former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo bemoaned the nation’s lack of unity, claiming that it is one of the problems that has prevented the nation from becoming great and the beacon of the entire Black race.
According to Obasanjo, he is still adamant that things would improve for the nation ‘as long as we can look back as a country and correct the mistake of the past,’ even in light of the depressing state of affairs.
The former president explained that ‘the truth is that at independence, Nigeria emerged with three leaders and so it is that regionalism, as practiced prior to obtaining independence in October 1960, is the foundation of the country’s prolonged lack of cohesion.”‘Three nations in one has been the situation ever since.
At his penthouse inside the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Obasanjo revealed this to a 20-member delegation of the League of Northern Democrats, which was led by Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, the former governor of Kano State.
‘It is high time we began working for the national interest,’ the former president stated, adding that the merit, capacity, and ability to deliver on what we move the nation forward should be of utmost importance when choosing leaders, rather than the question of where you come from.
According to Obasanjo, ‘es, you have designated your organization as the League of Northern Democrats, but how It should not be an issue where you come from, so I hope you title your organization the National League of Democrats.
I shouldn’t let my place of birth work against my Nigerian identity. Rather than becoming a citizen of the Republic of Oodua, I shall be growing as a Nigerian.
A Nigerian shouldn’t be an obstacle to my Yoruba identity, even though I am pleased to be one. No matter where he comes from, we have to hire the best individual for the position. We need to straighten up.
re admired by the Black race, the African continent, and the entire world. When we gained our independence, we were referred to as giants in the sun, but Does that still hold true today?
In addition to disappointing the black community, Africa, and the entire world, we have also let ourselves down.
We are correct to be concerned because we have disregarded the importance of honesty, love, and integrity, but it is yet possible to turn around. We ought to move on from the past and strive for Nigeria’s glory.
Obasanjo went on to say that he agreed with the group’s concerns about the current state of affairs in the nation, but that as long as everyone is willing to band together and work as one nation, the situation can still be saved.
As a proud member of the Black race, he stated that he will always be a Pan-Africanist, a patriotic and nationalistic Nigerian.
Since the principles the League of Northern Democrats upheld are what united the country, he pushed them to think about renaming themselves the National League of Democrats.
He also stated that if he is too old to be an active member of the League, he would not mind funding them.
Prior to this, Shekarau, the group’s leader, stated that the nonpartisan organization was founded roughly three months ago with the goal of promoting national unity and efficient governance.
The group is concerned with issues of unity, youth vigor and employment, education, decent administration, credible individuals in government, insecurity, and the nation’s overall underdevelopment, according to the former governor.
The group, which is composed of individuals from various professions in the country’s northern regions, came together, according to Shekarau, to discuss how it would affect attempts to solve the nation’s issues, including the appointment of trustworthy leaders and effective administration.
He bemoaned the fact that the country’s 93 million registered voters are unable to elect the governing elite, which he said consists of little more than 11,000 people.
‘Here are only a little over 11,000 of the 93 million registered voters, including the 36 governors and their deputies, the president and his vice, the 469 members of the House of Representatives and Senate, the council members, and the chairmen of local governments,’ Shekarau stated.
Cannot elect trustworthy leaders by looking around the nation. Thus, as a collective, we intend to address all of these through our activism.
The previous governor added that, in accordance with the former president’s advice, the group’s name will be changed to National following appropriate consultation in order to provide a feeling of community for all members.
