₦airaland Forum

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says his imprisonment under Sani Abacha, the late military head of state, illustrates the price that can accompany principled leadership.

Obasanjo spoke at an international colloquium titled ‘Burden and Blessing of Leadership: Reflections from Global Africa to the World’ held in Abeokuta, Ogun state, as part of activities marking his 89th birthday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by Kehinde Akinyemi, his special assistant on media, Obasanjo described leadership as both a “heavy burden” and a “profound blessing”, drawing from decades of military command, imprisonment, and democratic governance.

The former president reflected on pivotal moments that shaped his understanding of power, responsibility, and service.

Recalling his role as commander of the third marine commando division during the Nigerian civil war, Obasanjo said leadership often requires difficult decisions whose consequences affect millions of people.

He said that in the final days of the war in 1970, he chose restraint to prevent further civilian casualties, describing the decision as an example of the moral weight leaders must carry.

Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as civilian president from 1999 to 2007, said the public frequently underestimates the personal cost of leadership.

“My imprisonment was evidence of the price that can accompany principled positions,” he said.

He described leadership as a rare privilege, noting that the opportunity to serve during defining historical moments remains one of its greatest rewards.

Obasanjo cited the 1979 handover to Shehu Shagari, which marked Nigeria’s first peaceful transfer of power from military to civilian rule, as one of the most fulfilling decisions of his career.

On Africa’s development trajectory, Obasanjo said the continent’s enduring challenges stem largely from governance failures.

Africa remains richly endowed with natural and human resources but continues to suffer from weak institutions, corruption and self-serving leadership,” Obasanjo said.

The former president called for deeper investment in leadership development, institutional strengthening, and democratic accountability across the continent.

Obasanjo also urged African governments to engage the global African diaspora more effectively, describing it as an underutilised asset capable of accelerating continental renewal.

He highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a transformative initiative capable of expanding markets, attracting investment and improving Africa’s global competitiveness if fully implemented.

Africa is not a problem to be managed. Africa is a promise to be fulfilled — and leadership is how that promise gets kept,” he said.

Obasanjo’s 89th birthday activities will conclude on Thursday with a distinguished lecture titled ‘The Global African Enlightenment from Chains to Renaissance’.

Jean Robert Pillard, Haiti’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, is expected to deliver the lecture at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.

SlavaUkraini:
https://www.thecable.ng/obasanjo-my-jail-experience-under-abacha-was-price-of-standing-on-principle/

Richtaiwo:
I agree with Obj. There is no doubt that he remains a man of strong principles, even at his current age. The same can be said of Jagaban. One may disagree with his principles, but he clearly has them and consistently stands by them.

This stands in stark contrast to someone who cannot even remain seated in one political party, despite solemnly declaring that he would never leave.

Mattswaggz:
Same way Someone is jailed in Sokoto for saying the Truth and standing for his people...... Divinity will acknowledge Him and fight for him and what he suffered for will be achieved now or in the future.

Memphitz357:
Silly talk!

Tinubu CAN NEVER stand on the international stage and gather clout like Obasanjo!


NEVER!!

Mattswaggz:
Same way Someone is jailed in Sokoto for saying the Truth and standing for his people...... Divinity will acknowledge Him and fight for him and what he suffered for will be achieved now or in the future.

Richtaiwo:
Okay.

But agulu fraud can gather the universe abi.

Mattswaggz:
Same way Someone is jailed in Sokoto for saying the Truth and standing for his people...... Divinity will acknowledge Him and fight for him and what he suffered for will be achieved now or in the future.

Memphitz357:
Another senseless and silly talk!

Peter Obi will ALWAYS be your worst nightmare 🤣🤣🤣

JackDaAlienz:
President Olusegun Obasanjo is one of the last SWest men to be created with balls of steel and iron.

The rest were created with balls of plastic

Nnamdi Kanu is facing the same thing Mandela and Obasanjo faced.

History will be good to NMK

ecolime:
Just one vote so far for Buhari.

You people are callous

anonimi:
March 21, 2011

Tinubu rules out alliance with CPC

Prospect of a possible alliance between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, was dashed yesterday in Kano as the leader of the party and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu described CPC as parading “expired leadership.”

Tinubu told ACN supporters in Kano during the party’s Presidential rally that: “What Nigerians need now is a transformation in leadership” as obtained in the advanced economy.

The two-term Governor of Lagos State explained that the leadership of ACN was offering Nigeria the brilliance of Nuhu Ribadu who, he said, is in the class of Nicolas Sarkozi of France, David Cameron of Britain, Medvedev of Russia and Barack Obama of the United States of America.

“What has CPC got to offer? We certainly don’t need expired leadership as we are offering the best in terms of brilliance, courage and patriotism in the class of Sarkozi of France, David Cameron of Britain and Barack Obama of the USA.”

Tinubu’s position came on the heels of Ribadu’s declaration penultimate week in Kaduna when he hinted during a political rally of a joint ticket between the two opposition parties to confront the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The national leader of ACN criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for shying away from the national debate held last Friday, stressing that”that singular act exposed Jonathan as a coward who has nothing to offer.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/tinubu-rules-out-alliance-with-cpc/

Richtaiwo:
I agree with Obj. There is no doubt that he remains a man of strong principles, even at his current age. The same can be said of Jagaban. One may disagree with his principles, but he clearly has them and consistently stands by them.

This stands in stark contrast to someone who cannot even remain seated in one political party, despite solemnly declaring that he would never leave.

ecolime:
Just one vote so far for Buhari.

You people are callous

Memphitz357:
Another senseless and silly talk!

Peter Obi will ALWAYS be your worst nightmare 🤣🤣🤣

ecolime:
Just one vote so far for Buhari.

You people are callous

Richtaiwo:
I agree with Obj. There is no doubt that he remains a man of strong principles, even at his current age. The same can be said of Jagaban. One may disagree with his principles, but he clearly has them and consistently stands by them.

This stands in stark contrast to someone who cannot even remain seated in one political party, despite solemnly declaring that he would never leave.