…eulogises Chinua Achebe at US varsity leadership forum

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented Nigeria’s deepening socio-economic challenges and called for renewed hope and leadership.

Obasanjo stated this at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, held at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Delivering his keynote address via a pre-recorded 25-minute video, Obasanjo highlighted the pervasive corruption and mismanagement undermining Nigeria’s progress.

The address, titled, “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria”, painted a grim picture of the nation’s condition.

“As the world can see and understand, Nigeria’s situation is bad,” he stated.

“The more the immorality and corruption of a nation, the more the nation sinks into chaos, insecurity, conflict, discord, disunity, depression, youth restiveness, confusion, violence, and underdevelopment.”

In his speech, shared by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former president compared Nigeria’s governance to Singapore’s, noting how the latter prioritises healthcare, education, and social welfare.

Contrastingly, he pointed out Nigeria’s struggle under what he referred to as the “reign of Baba-go-slow and Emilokan.”

Quoting from Chinua Achebe’s 1983 classic, “The Trouble with Nigeria”, Obasanjo reiterated that the nation’s primary challenge lies in its leadership.

“The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership,” he said, commending Achebe’s enduring insight.

While acknowledging international critiques branding Nigeria a “fully failed state,” Obasanjo dismissed such fatalistic views, emphasising the country’s resilience.

“Nigeria is too big to fail,” he insisted, while urging leaders to rise to the occasion.

The former President expounded on the concept of state capture, describing it as one of the most insidious forms of corruption.

He accused political elites of exploiting national assets and resources for personal gain through illicit practices such as vote-buying, nepotism, and undue influence on public policies.

“State capture seriously affects economic development, regulatory quality, the provision of public services, and even public health,” Obasanjo warned.

He called for stringent local and international measures to curb such practices.

Obasanjo also took a moment to honour the forum’s namesake, Chinua Achebe, describing him as “an African icon” and “the Eagle on Iroko.”

He praised Achebe’s literary legacy and his contribution to Nigeria’s cultural identity, asserting that while the world may claim Achebe, he belongs to Nigeria first.

Obasanjo’s speech served as both a critique of Nigeria’s present challenges and a rallying cry for hope and change, urging citizens and leaders to embrace accountability and integrity