Self-centered leadership bane of Nigeria’s progress, says Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo, former president, says Nigerians must stop electing transactional leaders for the country to make progress.

Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun capital, on Saturday as the special guest of honour at the leadership empowerment international conference (LEIC).

The former president said the country is presently plagued at all levels by a band of “self-centred leaders” who lack the idea of what a true sense of leadership style entails.

Obasanjo said these kinds of leaders must loosen their hold for Nigeria to move forward.

“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,” he said

“And if you ask me in one word, what is the bane of Nigeria today? I will not think about it twice. I will say it is leadership. Leadership that is self-centred, leadership that is a deficit of 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. This is what LEIC is doing that is commendable and very good. We must encourage and inculcate good leadership into every level of our national life.”

Obasanjo challenged Nigerians to seek an end to the culture of enthroning transactional leaders as opposed to transformational leaders who will deliver good governance.