What Obasanjo said About the True Source of Nigeria’s Problems

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, recently boldly criticised the issues holding Nigeria back, revealing that regionalism is a major source of the country’s problems. 

Speaking during a meeting with the League of Northern Democrats in Abeokuta on October 22, 2024, Obasanjo urged Nigerians to move beyond regional divisions and focus on what truly matters—national development and good leadership.

The regional divide

According to Obasanjo, Nigeria’s overemphasis on regional identities—North, East, and West—has been a major stumbling block since the country gained independence in 1960. 

He emphasized that this focus on regionalism continues to haunt the nation and prevents it from achieving its full potential. “One of the things that led us to where we are today, and we haven’t gotten out of, is regionalism,” Obasanjo said. “Whenever I hear ‘North,’ ‘East,’ or ‘West,’ I get frightened.”

Obasanjo has always been an outspoken advocate for national unity. In this instance, he mentioned how regional affiliations tend to overshadow the more important factors in leadership, such as competence and vision. He expressed frustration that, decades after independence, Nigeria is still stuck in the mindset of dividing itself along regional lines instead of uniting for progress.

Leadership over region

A key part of Obasanjo’s message was that leadership should not be defined by where a person comes from, but by their ability to lead and bring development to the country. “It doesn’t matter where a leader comes from,” he said. “What matters is what that leader brings to the table in terms of development and governance.” 

This statement echoed Obasanjo’s longstanding belief that Nigeria’s future depends on choosing leaders based on their merits rather than their regional or ethnic background.

He argued that sticking to regional labels only reinforces divisions and prevents the country from moving forward as a united nation. For Obasanjo, it’s clear: Nigeria needs to prioritize national interests over regional allegiances if it hopes to overcome the challenges it faces.

Obasanjo advised the league of Northern democrats

During the meeting, Obasanjo also gave some candid advice to the League of Northern Democrats, the group led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau. He suggested they reconsider their regional focus, encouraging them to adopt a more inclusive name that reflects a national outlook rather than a sectional one. 

“Your name would have been better as ‘National League of Democrats’ instead of ‘Northern League of Democrats,'” Obasanjo advised, pointing out that the group’s current name promotes a regional identity at a time when Nigeria desperately needs unity.

In response, Shekarau explained that the League of Northern Democrats was formed just three months ago as a coalition of like-minded people from the North. With 400 members, the group aims to influence political decisions and leadership recruitment across all levels in Nigeria.