By Muhammed Shaeed
Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria has stated that the problem that hinders the country from occupying a better place of pride in the world and impeding it from being much better is due to the self-centered leadership who also have a knowledge deficit.
The former president made this statement in Abeokuta, Ogun state, on Saturday when speaking at the 2024 edition of the Leadership Empowerment International Conference.
He said, “There is no end to leadership and service to your community until you breathe the last. And you can never be too old to be a leader and to give something to the community in which you lead and serve as a leader, to serve your state, your country, the continent, and the world.
“And if you asked me in one word, what is the bane of Nigeria today? I will not think about it twice. I will say it is leadership. Self-centered leadership, leadership that is a deficit in knowledge and understanding, and leadership that does not see service as the centerpiece of what leadership is all about.
“If we can get the leadership right, we will get all other things right. That is what Prof. Olusesi Obateye is doing, which is commendable and very good. We must encourage and inculcate good leadership into every level of our national life.”
He, however, commended the International Coordinator of Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, and the President of the South Africa-based institute, Prof.Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, for recognizing and encouraging some Nigerians with leadership capacities.