Obasanjo: How can a president come into office without a plan?

Olusegun Obasanjo, former president, has criticised Nigerian leaders who assume the reins without a clear plan of action. 

In an interview on News Central Television, Obasanjo berated presidents who have no understanding of problems and challenges. 

Without mentioning names, the retired general said a president should not make pronouncements on issues that have not been carefully studied or dissected. 

Obasanjo said to achieve long-lasting solutions to the problems facing the country, leaders must be prepared to understand the kinds of solutions that are required for specific problems.

“What do you say of a Nigerian president who came to office without a plan and woke up and just said, ‘Three-point plan’? What are the three points, and what are they going to achieve? Who are the people who worked on it?” he asked.

“You come and you just open your mouth and make a pronouncement on something that has not been studied.”

Obasanjo emphasised the need for good governance, adding that “good leadership should be appreciated and used to good advantage”.

“Leadership is not a thing you pick on the road, and not everybody is given it. So, when we identify leadership, we should appreciate it and use it to good advantage,” he added.

“When I talk of leadership, I’m not talking of leadership just at the political level but in all walks of life.

“Wherever we see leadership, whether it is in the private sector or the public sector, we should make use of that good leader to achieve the maximum.

“The point is, unfortunately in Africa generally and in Nigeria particularly, we take two steps forward, take one sideways, and take two or three backward.

“Leadership should be what we pay attention to.”

Obasanjo was military head of state from 1976 to 1979 and civilian president from 1999 to 2007.