- Shekarau explained that the delegation sought to gain insights from Obasanjo’s extensive experience in governance and leadership
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo praised the League of Northern Democrats (LND) for its formation, but urged the organisation to grow from a regional initiative to a national movement.
He made these remarks yesterday while meeting with a 20-member delegation from the LND, led by former Kano State Governor Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau, at his Presidential Library Complex in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo stated that if the group broadens its focus to include all Nigerians, he would be willing to support it financially.
“Anytime you metamorphose into a League of Nigerian Democrats, come back to me and I will be your patron,” he promised.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s pressing issues and emphasised the importance of working together to address them.
The former president commended Shekarau for his dedication and praised Dr Umar Ardo for his foresight in convening the group, recognising the difficult economic circumstances under which they met.
During the meeting, Shekarau explained that the delegation sought to gain insights from Obasanjo’s extensive experience in governance and leadership.
Hon. Emmanuel Jime, the group’s secretary, expressed gratitude for Obasanjo’s contributions to national unity, describing him as “the most nationalistic and detribalised Nigerian alive.”
In a related development, former Chief of Army Staff General Theophilus Danjuma highlighted concerns about the declining quality of political leadership in Nigeria, particularly in the North.
Speaking during a separate meeting with the LND delegation at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos, Danjuma urged leaders to take immediate action to reverse this trend, stating, “Leadership quality in Nigeria is going down and down and down.”
Danjuma cautioned the League of Northern Democrats about the powerful and entrenched political class they would be up against, encouraging them to pursue their mission with determination.
He emphasised the need for unity among various interest groups in the North to influence the emergence of credible leadership.
Shekarau articulated the League’s vision of addressing the pressing issues of insecurity, educational decline, and economic stagnation in the North.
He underscored the importance of fostering unity to facilitate a credible leadership recruitment process, making the North a significant political bloc in Nigeria.
In his response, Danjuma praised the League’s initiative and commitment, promising to lend his support where possible.
He also reflected on the legacy of late Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, reminiscing about the events surrounding the political upheaval of January 1966.
Since its formation in July, the League of Northern Democrats has been actively engaging with various stakeholders, including notable figures such as former Vice President Namadi Sambo and General Martin Luther Agwai, as it works to define its role and impact within Nigeria’s political landscape.
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