Nigeria can’t progress with current set of leaders – Obasanjo

• He attributed the socio-economic and political challenges the nation and its people are grappling to dearth of quality, visionary and sound leadership

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said for Nigeria to shrug off the plethora of challenges and predicament that beset it there must be a change in mentality of those leading it.

He attributed the socio-economic and political challenges the nation and its people are grappling with to dearth of quality, visionary and sound leadership.

Obasanjo stated this in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday, as Special Guest of Honour at the Leadership Empowerment International Conference, where 25 distinguished Nigerians were conferred with honorary doctorates in leadership.

The former president noted that for the country to break free from its present challenges, the “self-centred leaders” occupying offices at all levels of governance must inculcate the ideals of good and selfless leadership.

The elder statesman said: “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 asserted that once Nigeria gets leadership right, things would start taking shape for the country.

“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 deficient in 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.”