Former President Olusegun Obasanjo insisted on Friday that the country will not progress towards achieving its goals unless both leaders and citizens embrace what he termed “moral rearmament.”
He also warned that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder that could explode if the nation fails to take courageous and decisive steps to address its numerous challenges.
Obasanjo described Nigeria as a nation that takes two steps forward, one step aside, and four steps backward.
He deemed the demands of #EndBadGovernance protesters as very legitimate, stating that the government should heed the people’s grievances and cease pretending that all is
Obasanjo made these remarks when he received six members of the House of Representatives, who are co-sponsors of bills proposing a single six-year term, rotation of the presidency between the North and South, and rotation of governorship slots among the three senatorial districts of each of the 36 states.
The legislators visited Obasanjo at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
The lawmakers included Abdulmalik Danga from Kogi, Dr Usman Midala from Borno, Matthew Nwogu from Imo, Peter Aniekwe from Anambra, Kama Nkemkanma from Ebonyi, and Ugochinyere Ikenga from Imo.
Obasanjo lamented that succeeding governments have failed to build on the foundation he established, resulting in significant setbacks for the country.
He said, “As I have warned earlier, we should recognise that we are all sitting on a powder keg if we fail to begin doing the right thing. For instance, what the youth are demanding is very legitimate and should be listened to. Why should they be denied what rightfully belongs to them?
“They are frustrated, they are hungry, they are angry, they are unemployed, and they deserve to be heard.”
Speaking further, he said, “More than anything else, such as changing our system of government or adopting a single term of six or four years, we must change our ways of doing things. We must reform our thinking and character.
(PUNCH)