The former leader lampooned the younger generation of leaders in the country and stressed that they failed the citizenry. Obasanjo was quoted as saying that the performance of the younger generation of leaders has not been impressive, particularly in terms of integrity.
There is no doubt that there is some element of truth in what Obasanjo said. Perhaps, the essence of his pontifical charge is that it touches on the recurring leadership miasma in the country since independence. Apart from the achievements recorded in the First Republic by our founding fathers and some political office holders of that golden era of Nigerian politics, subsequent Nigerian leaders, including Obasanjo, performed well below expectation.
Since Obasanjo was in charge when most of the politicians that he is now questioning their integrity were in office, what did he do to ensure that such tendencies are totally eradicated from the country? We ask this question bearing in mind that discipline should flow from the top and not from the bottom.
Obasanjo, for many Nigerians, does not represent the best example in leadership.
Being lucky to have ruled Nigeria for the longest period in the nation’s history – a total of 11 years – Obasanjo had ample time and opportunity to make a huge difference in the governance of the country.
He should have taken the country out of the era of unbridled corruption and political ineptitude to one of moral unction and economic prosperity. He also had a second chance in power to put things right in the country, but he squandered it.
The inability of the Obasanjo regime to fix the power sector despite the billions of naira pumped into its resuscitation, and the failure of the regime to upgrade most of the nation’s dilapidated infrastructure, particularly the roads, railways, schools and hospitals, are clear pointers that even Obasanjo was not the exemplary leader he holds himself out to be.
He is as guilty as those he is busy castigating, especially when some of his initiatives, such as the Obasanjo Presidential Library that was largely funded by public officers and institutions, are taken into consideration. This holier than thou attitude that Obasanjo has become known for cannot take the nation anywhere.
We decry this attitude of the kettle calling the pot black that is common in our polity.
Those who come to equity must come with clean hands.
While it cannot be argued that many of the present crop of Nigerian leaders are guilty as charged by Obasanjo, it is worth pointing out that the seed of underdevelopment and corruption that has characterised our politics was sown and sustained by past leaders, including the numerous military dictators the country has had and the civilian presidents that succeeded them.
It is no credit to Obasanjo that his regime, like most of the others that we have had, recorded many instances of impunity. During his eight-year rule, the Senate had five senate presidents. His was an era of rash impeachment of governors and removal of legislators.
The period also witnessed lack of internal democracy in the ruling party as candidates were imposed at will. The height of such impunity was Obasanjo’s attempt to extend his rule via the infamous and rejected third term agenda.
His anti-corruption war was mostly regarded as selective and targeted at political opponents of his administration. This, probably, accounted for its failure to achieve the desired results.
The issues raised by the former leader are pertinent but the paradox is that the older generation, which he represents, has not been a good example to the new generation of leaders.
As Chief Obasanjo blames others, let him be modest and acknowledge that he, too, contributed to the rot in the country. He lacks the moral high ground to point fingers at others.
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