Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has blamed the current slow progress in Africa on bad leadership and inability of Africans to manage their diversity to their advantage.
Featuring as the guest of honour and keynote speaker at the award night organised by the National Daily Newspaper tagged; “Celebrating Excellence,” an occasion where the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu were among the awardees, Obasanjo said African leaders in the past did better than the crop of leaders they now have.
Chief Obasanjo who spoke on the topic: “Attaining peace in Africa”, noted that Africans need to ask themselves questions on what their past leaders did right, what that they are doing wrong now, and what were the values and qualities then that are lacking now.
“Over a long period, I have been involved in peace talks, initiating peace, development and stability which are essential for growth and development, and must be followed by justice, equity and fairness,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria is often referred to as the giant of Africa, and wonders if Nigeria is really the giant of Africa.
“Have we lived up to giant in the sun? If we have not lived up to that, are there qualities that leaders have then that are absent in leadership now? What were there in those days that are not there today?
“Talk of values, has the value changed? Peace, security and stability that were prerequisites for advancement in those days? These factors were present in our lives,” Obasanjo said.
He said the failure of Africa to choose the right leaders brought about the consequences of what the continent is now facing.
The former president explained that in the past Africans made the right choice on who to rule them and there were good performances, and it is only when a right leader is in charge that excellence can be attained.
He admitted that there is something unique about Nigerians because no matter where they find themselves they excel individually, adding that there are many of them across the globe unsung.
He commended the award given to the Inspector General of Police, saying the police are rarely appreciated, and the award is for him to improve more on what he is doing and prove to Nigerians that despite the gloomy situation in the country, there are spotlights of excellence that need to be recognised and celebrated.
He noted that Africa should be successful and to achieve success it is to improve on what one meets on ground.
“For me, how you define success is what matters, the definition is making a place better than you found things, each and everyone of us can achieve excellence, we are in this world to achieve excellence, we have to do better to ensure we Nigerians make a difference, if we fail to make a difference, it is of no use being here.
“What is wrong with Africa is that we are not making things better, one major problem of Africa is mismanagement of diversity,” he added.
Earlier, chairman of the occasion, Chief Julius Adelusi-Ademiluyi, said the awardees were chosen to inspire others, adding that those chosen are people who had contributed to the growth of the nation, either old or young.
He noted that Nigeria is still in a precarious situation, and needs to get out of the situation as soon as possible by adopting the principles leaders of the country in the 60’s adopted which were based on chances, choices and consequences.
Some of those given awards were from corporate world, entertainment industry, members of the National Youth Service Corps, communication industry and individuals that have excelled in their chosen fields.
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