Obasanjo: "The Danger Ahead Is Real and Potent, Revolution Coming"

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed fears that Nigeria will witness a revolution soon unless government takes urgent steps to check growing youth unemployment and poverty.

Speaking at the West African regional conference on youth employment in Dakar, Senegal at the weekend, Obasanjo said the danger posed by an army of unemployed youth in Nigeria can only be imagined.

"I'm afraid, and you know I am a General. When a General says he is afraid, that means the danger ahead is real and potent," he said.

Obasanjo added that despite what he called the imminent threat to Nigeria's nationhood "there is absence of serious, concrete, realistic, short and long term solution" to youth unemployment.

He made reference to the doctorate degree holders who applied for jobs as drivers at the Dangote Group, saying Nigerian youths have been patient enough and that this patience will soon reach its elastic limit.

According to the former president, youth unemployment rate which was 72% in 1999 when he took over power had been reduced to 52% by 2004 but that the rate rocketed to 71% by 2011.

Obasanjo left office in 2007, succeeded by Umaru Yar'Adua who died in 2010, and President Jonathan has been in office since then.

The former president lamented that the unemployment situation had given rise to the prevalence of social crimes being perpetrated by three categories of youth whom he identified as area boys, Yahoo boys and, recently, Blackberry boys

He told the diverse audience that in Nigeria people talk of growth without corresponding development, and that what is visible is increased poverty

Obasanjo said national leaders must create incentives that will encourage entrepreneurs to flourish and that special attention should be given to agriculture business as against mere farming.

He reiterated the need for easy access to land and micro credit, while advocating for a review of school curriculum to enable undergraduates spend additional one year to learn entrepreneurship.

At the sub-regional level, Obasanjo called for a review of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) to accommodate issues of youth unemployment and job creation.

The conference, which was sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the African Development Bank, was attended by top bankers from across Africa including the Managing Director of Nigeria's Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu.

SPIFF: Obasanjo: "The Danger Ahead Is Real and Potent, Revolution Coming"
According to the former president, youth unemployment rate which was 72% in 1999 when he took over power had been reduced to 52% by 2004 but that the rate rocketed to 71% by 2011.

He told the diverse audience that in Nigeria people talk of growth without corresponding development, and that what is visible is increased poverty

okosodo: If it leads to splitting, i will enjoy it

belovedaja:
mumu

kokosheen: OBJ is part of the problem, he created and cultivated the atmosphere for which we now find ourselves. 2015 here we come.

Chamber10: Obj is part of the problem. He spent billions to generate darkness instead of electricity. If the revolution starts, it will start from Ota.

KINGwax: as expected, you are ignorant of your enemy! OBJ is a bad looking ugly mofo, i can't agree more. But here are some of what u can mull over:
1. Cleared all your debts and left with no one
2. Left a high foreign reserve
3. Even without electricity, nigeria's economy was at the rise
4. Reduced unemploymen with so many programmes put in place
5. Gave u that fuckin GSM u now use to display your ignorant.

That guy is far from perfect, but as far as today is concerned, you've got no better president

okosodo: If it leads to splitting, i will enjoy it

KINGwax: as expected, you are ignorant of your enemy! OBJ is a bad looking ugly mofo, i can't agree more. But here are some of what u can mull over:
1. Cleared all your debts and left with no one
2. Left a high foreign reserve
3. Even without electricity, nigeria's economy was at the rise
4. Reduced unemploymen with so many programmes put in place
5. Gave u that fuckin GSM u now use to display your ignorant.

That guy is far from perfect, but as far as today is concerned, you've got no better president

shymexx: Good news!

How can I join this revolution? - I'll like to murk a couple of people...

shymexx: Good news!

How can I join this revolution? - I'll like to murk a couple of people...

kokosheen:

Dude, I laugh at what you term ignorance, which means you're non-ignorant shey, Ode (I didn't say you're F0Ol ).

The 1st point you raised makes no sense and I doubt if you earn REAL money or run a business. Wake up, everyone is in debt. From the America you all run to, to the countries that make up the Paris club. It doesn't make much common sense to pay-off a whole chunk of how many billions of dollars NOI scammed OBJ to pay in one go, if the debt is structured well. It even acts as a deterrence to other Mofos coming after Obj not to borrow more (Like we've clearly seen, next year the external debt profile will rise to $9 Billion, while domestic is already close to $18Billion (or something in this region)). That money could have been used to execute urgently needed capital projects but no, they had to pay off their masters.
Having a good level of debt is good, that's if you listen to NOI (thank God, she's the same main actor in both govts)

on your 2nd point, your so-called high foreign reserve was a scam because OBJ signed-off on so many power projects (good job on that) whose cash calls didn't come through till after he left (if you know anything about budget phasing/payment structures/plan, you'll appreciate that NOT all commitments are paid for at point of contract/purchase order award). This now brings to question what OBJ spent the $8Billion for power projects in his last 4 years on shey

On your third point, shey you know the period OBJ was in power and left was the when the world financial mess was created by the banking cowboys abi? You cannot create sustainable wealth without a manufacturing industry to support it. That's why out of all the European countries, its the Scandinavian countries and Germany that have withstood the storm (Even Iceland that had the first banking crisis (trigger) has sustained growth). The money was there then and foreign investors flooded the Nigerian market with FX, after the bubble bust, they ran away and the economy has been on shaky mode since (without the worldwide financial crisis, Cecilia Ibru would never have gone to jail , wrong timing).

On your fourth point, what employment did he reduce sit there and be lying to yourself . Whatever employment gain/loss we had in the period and since then, is directly attributed to my statement above as banks were opening branches as if they were competing with RCCG and employing massively to man these branches (of course you know about the subsequent massive lay-off not long after).

On your fifth point, seriously SMH for you. The guy didn't give me nada, he gave licenses to mobile phone providers, no light to power them,no infrastructure to support them, sh1t, those guys had to start from scratch and you're here writing trash. Do you know the amount of kickback OBJ received till he left power?

On a final note, I wouldn't have bothered to respond to you if some people didn't go liking your post and it creates a sad feeling within me that Nigerians are now so bastardized that our mental psyche accepts whatever condition we find ourselves. Dude! OBJ is a traitor to this country and he has NEVER wished well for me and you. All these things you appreciate him for, are crumbs when you see the amount of wealth + potential of the country being wasted. Take a trip to KL and see what a country that came to yours for palm kennel seeds have done for themselves .