Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Monday, said in a no-holds barred speech that Nigeria has failed herself, Africa, entire black race and the world by not living up to expectations since independence.
Obasanjo stated this in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the public presentation of the book titled: ‘Reclaiming the jewel of Africa’, written by former Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga.
In his remarks presented virtually, Obasanjo, making reference to the current removal of fuel subsidy which had driven many Nigerians into untold hardship, said more Nigerians are being plunged into poverty due to good policies poorly implemented without adequate consultations, bad ones and absence of policies in some cases.
“Over the last 63 years, we have not lived up to expectations. We have disappointed ourselves; we have disappointed Africa; we have disappointed the black race; and we have disappointed the world,” Obasanjo stated.
He added, “We are carried along by ego and emotion of self, selfishness and self-centredness, ethnic and religious jingoism, with total lack of understanding of the world we live in and gross misunderstanding of what development entails and how to move fast and continuously on the trajectory of development.”
President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Monetary Policy, Olawale Edun, unveiled the book. In attendance at the event were past and present senior government officials.
Making reference to the author and what he has tried to achieve in his book, the former president said, “what Segun (Aganga) has tried to identify, itemise and recommend in his book is the way forward. “But the beginning of charting a new course for ourselves is to admit our failure, because we have not always put the round peg in the round hole.
Obasanjo identified peace and security as two planks for building a strong country and ensuring all round development, adding that Nigeria cannot achieve these without justice, equity and inclusive society..
“I will also point at the issue of education, where over 20 million children that should be in school are not in school. We do not need an oracle to tell us the consequences of that for tomorrow. We do not need to look far for the remote causes of banditry, Boko Haram, kidnapping and other organised crimes.
He further warned, “We are living dangerously on a keg of gunpowder, driving more people into poverty through good policies poorly and thoughtlessly implemented or bad policy and no policy at all,” he added.
