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Nigeria Volatile, Filled With Suffering – Obasanjo Laments

Published

1 year ago

June 2, 2024

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said on Saturday that Nigeria was becoming more volatile, uncertain and complex.

He added that insecurity had made the country a dangerous place, filled with so much suffering and hunger.

For him, the leadership has to wake up to its responsibilities in other to create a better world for all Nigerians.

He said these in Lagos at the Africa Methodist Council Heads of Conference Summit and Women’s Movement Leadership Summit, where he was the Chairman of the public lecture.

The lecture’s topic, presented by the General Secretary, World Methodist Council, Bishop Ivan Abrahams, was, ‘Leadership in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous World’.

Obasanjo, giving his opening remarks asked that Nigerian leaders must re-evaluate the world.

“How do we re-evaluate the world? That is what I believe we have to do in our re-evaluating the world. What do we do? Jesus Christ himself told us that in this world, we would have trouble.

“I will give you two points. Wake up! We need a new generation of leaders; moral leaders, transformational leaders, and servant leaders.

“This new generation of leaders will lead by showing love and leading the re-evaluation and transformation,” he said.

Speaking further, he said, “Nigeria as it is now is volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous and dangerous.

“We have resources in Africa; we have 70 per cent of the world’s copper. Japan has no mineral resources. Singapore is even worse. No resources!

“But, whatever resources we have, if we are devoid of leadership, it won’t get us anywhere. That is why leadership in Africa is very important.

“We can’t create an Africa of hope, prosperity, devoid of oppression and one of security, peace and where leaders have vision, knowledge and understanding this way.”

He also noted that the late South African freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela, and Preacher, Desmond Tutu, advised him to contest the presidency for the second time.

He said, “When I came out of prison, and there was pressure mounting on me to take the mantle of leadership in Nigeria, the only place I went outside Nigeria was South Africa. I went to seek advice from Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

“Nelson said, ‘Olu, whatever your instinct tells you, do it.’ Tutu said, ‘If your people want you to serve, serve and stop making excuses’.

“I came back home and decided to make myself available and contest for the presidency of Nigeria.

“I found out that the years I spent in prison were advantageous to me in serving as president when I was elected.

“We can get good out of bad. That also happened to Nelson Mandela.

“When we get good leaders, let’s make maximum use of them because good leaders don’t flog. When you get one in a generation, make good use of them. Let’s learn the right lesson from them.

“We cannot make the world less volatile, simple or unambiguous unless we have the right type of leaders. We are talking about leaders that take examples of Jesus Christ and become like him.”

Responding to a question during the question and answer session, Obasanjo said the removal of History from the nation’s educational curriculum was a huge disaster.

He said, “I don’t know where we got the idea that we shouldn’t teach history in our school. It is a stupid idea.

“It is like losing one’s memory. It will be a disaster. I don’t know where we got it from. Some people feel there is an aspect of the history we don’t want to hear.

“There are always the bad and the good even in your own life. As you may know, I am a proprietor of a school, and in my school, we must teach History, and it must be taught the right way. You can then decide to take whatever you want to take out of it.

“There is no race in the world that has suffered like the black race, through slavery, slave trade and colonialism.

“In America, some people are now teaching that the slave trade was not a true story – that the white and the black went to the Caribbean in search of greener pastures.

“We were shipped there as slaves. If we allow that to go, we will be enslaved again, and we must not allow that to go.

“I have given myself the task of working with some people to keep the slave trade alive in our history. We must not allow anyone to say the slave trade is not a true story and we must keep it on the front burner.”

Speaking further, the former President said finding crude oil in Nigeria was the beginning of the country’s misfortune.

He said, “One of the things that was a little bit of misfortune in Nigeria is crude oil. We were drinking and sleeping oil, and it was a misfortune for us. It made us to abandon agriculture. Oil is a waste asset. Agriculture is renewable. We have to go back to it.

“We have to give something to our youths who are becoming restive, frustrated and dangerous.

“If we are going to curb that, it is giving them education, skills, empowerment and employment. If we don’t, they will soon come to attack us in our homes in the daytime, and it is a matter of time.

“Even food, we don’t produce enough. We spend over $20bn to import food. 60 per cent of arable land is not cultivated. The one cultivated is not used to maximum capacity. We need leaders who will lead us to the promised land.”

Advising up-and-coming politicians, he said it was a pity most politicians took politics as a profession without any backup plan.

He said, “Politicians are a different kettle of fish. They have to be in the world and be to some extent of the world.

“You must not be a professional politician. Politics is one profession you go into without any training. You can wake up today and say you are a politician.

“If you are going to be a successful politician you must have an alternative to being a politician, another means of livelihood

“When I was President, because I had to listen to my party and they wanted to push me in the way I should not go, I always told them, ‘Look! My farm is there. Take your job. I go back to my farm.’

“Some politicians have no second address. That is a great pity. A politician who has no second address will stand for anything. He has no principle, morality, dos and don’ts.”

News

Sen. Imasuen Champions Respect, Responsibility As ‘Comprehending Gen Z + Gen A’ Returns In Benin

Published

3 hours ago

November 13, 2025

Editor

The second edition of Comprehending Gen Z + Gen A with the theme “My Body and Boundaries” held on Friday in Benin City drew wide commendation for its bold approach to youth empowerment, inclusion, and personal safety.

Sponsored by the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Senator Neda Imasuen, the event gathered students, policymakers, and child advocates to discuss the importance of body autonomy, consent, and mutual respect among young people.

In his keynote address, Senator Imasuen said this year’s edition took “a bold step towards inclusion” by addressing both the boy and girl child, stressing that understanding one’s body and personal boundaries was critical to building a just society.

“Our theme ‘My Body and Boundaries’ is not merely a slogan — it is a call to awareness, respect, and responsibility,” he declared.

“The girl child must know that her body is hers, not a tool for validation, exploitation, or control. The boy child must equally learn that true strength lies in respect, empathy, and protection, not dominance or entitlement.”

He urged parents, teachers, traditional rulers, and policymakers to work together to nurture a new generation that honours their bodies and respects others.

“When we educate, empower, and protect all our children, we build families that are stable, communities that are peaceful, and a nation that is strong and just,” Imasuen said.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Edo State Office of the First Lady underscored the importance of setting moral and behavioural boundaries in an age where exposure and peer pressure often mislead the youth. She lamented that both boys and girls have fallen victim to sexual assault because of ignorance and lack of awareness.

“Anything that happens without your consent is rape,” she stated. “It doesn’t matter the gender — boys rape boys now, women rape boys, women rape women. Anyone who touches you inappropriately has crossed your boundary, and it is not acceptable.”

She cautioned students against cultism, drug abuse, and indecent dressing, noting that Edo State has strict laws against cult-related activities.

On his part, Dr Osigbovo Eriamiantoe of the University of Benin Health Centre advised young people to take their mental health seriously, warning that substance abuse and cultism were leading triggers of depression and violence.

Representing the Edo State Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Permanent Secretary, Iryn Omoroguiwa commended the initiative as a “significant step towards empowering young people” and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing safe spaces for youth engagement and personal development.

Impact advocate, Dr Owen Omo-Ojo, founder of HIGH Health Consultant, added that setting and defending personal boundaries “is not rudeness but courage, an act of self-awareness and self-respect.”

The event featured a talk show, drama performances, and the presentation of gifts to participating schools. It ended with a resounding message: empowering the younger generation through knowledge, confidence, and respect is the surest path to building a safe and balanced society.

News

JUST IN: Abuja Airport Shutdown Over Aircraft Incident

Published

4 hours ago

November 13, 2025

Editor

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, was temporarily shut down on Thursday following an aircraft incident on its runway.

The aircraft, a Gulfstream 400 with the registration number 5N-PZE, a private jet, had its nosewheel damaged on landing at the airport at about 2 pm.

A source close to the airport confided in our correspondent that the aircraft, carrying 10 passengers and four crewmembers, had departed Enugu Airport for Abuja before the incident.

The cause of the incident could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, but the source confirmed that the aircraft had been evacuated from the scene.

The source said: “Yes, I can confirm an aircraft incident on the runway of Abuja Airport today (Thursday). The aircraft was coming from Enugu Airport but had a nosewheel incident on landing.

“As of the time of the incident, there were 14 souls onboard, including four crewmembers. However, there was no casualty among the passengers or the crew. It led to a minimal closure of the airport. The incident happened at about 2 pm.”

When The Guardian contacted the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Henry Agbebire, he did not respond to the enquiry from our correspondent.
Details later…

News

Edo IPDs Lament Economic Hardship, Seek Assistance

Published

6 hours ago

November 13, 2025

Editor

The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Uhogua, Benin City, Edo State capital, has lamented hardship caused by the economic situation of the country.

Coordinator of the camp known as Home for the Needy Foundation, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, said due to the economic hardship, feeding lifestyle of the IDPs has drastically dropped, adding that many of the students sponsored by the foundation in various universities are at home due to backlog of unpaid school fees.

Pastor Folorunsho, who spoke with newsmen on how the IDPs have been coping with the current hardship, said due to the economic hardship, a single meal where they used to cook 15 bags of rice has been reduced to 5.

Pastor Folorunsho, who is also the overseer of the International Christian Centre, while lamenting that the IDPs currently have no food, stated “it has not been easy feeding multitude as this especially with this economic situation of Nigeria, but the passion we have for the less privileged has kept us moving.”

He added: “Normally, we cook like 15 bags of rice per meal, 12 bags of garri per meal, 100 tubers of yam per meal, but because of the economic situation, what we have is what we cook for them. Sometimes, we cook 5 bags, and this is very little. Their eating has drastically reduced because of the economy.

“At times, it will get to a stage that we will not have money to buy foodstuffs, but good customers we have usually give us, and when money comes we pay. Currently, we don’t have food. We really want people to come support their feeding and school fees.”

The coordinator, who disclosed that Home for the Needy Foundation is currently sponsoring over 400 students in various universities across the country, however, lamented that “some universities are not allowing our students to write exams because they have been unable to pay their school fees.”

“We have over 400 students currently in different universities, and as I talk to you we have over 60 that just graduated. A few days ago, 6 doctors graduated amongst the students, likewise lawyers. We have about 70 students that ought to have graduated by now but the universities didn’t allow them to write their final year exams. They are currently with us, crying, but we keep encouraging them that God will send a good Samaritan.”

On healthcare, Pastor Folorunsho said: “We also need an abundance, because, at times, when we have emergencies, we have to be running up and down to get a vehicle, but if we have an abundance stationed here, we can rush to UBTH.

“We also need medical laboratory equipment for our medical personnel to run tests in the health centre.”

The coordinator, while appreciating those who have been donating to the IDPS, passionately appealed to “well-meaning Nigerians, Non-Governmental Organisations, the international community, even food producing companies like Dangote and everyone that loves humanity to come provide food for these children.

“What these children need is food to eat, and they are able to go to school. They need notebooks and textbooks. We need those that will pay our teachers and their school fees.

“We all know where these children are coming from— Some of them saw their parents beheaded, some saw dead bodies — they saw all sorts of horrible things, so, they were highly traumatized in the beginning. Now that they are out of trauma, we don’t want them to go back to trauma again because of not having food to eat, or because of inability to pay school fees. Inability to pay school fees will bring trauma back, of which we don’t want.”