Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed support for the Nigerian youths participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, stating that their demands are legitimate and deserve attention,Daily Trust reports.
“What the youth protesters are demanding is very legitimate and should be listened to. Why should they be denied what rightfully belongs to them?” Obasanjo said at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State. “They are frustrated, hungry, angry, and unemployed, and they deserve to be heard.”
Obasanjo made these remarks while hosting six members of the House of Representatives who are co-sponsoring bills on issues such as a single six-year term for the presidency, the rotation of the presidency between the north and the south, and the rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial districts in each of the 36 states. The legislators were led by Ugochinyere Ikenga, representing Ideato North and Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State.
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Obasanjo criticized successive administrations for not building on the foundation he laid during his time in office, which he believes has led to significant setbacks for the country.
“More than changing our system of government or moving to a single term of six or four years, we must change our way of doing things in this country. We need to ‘decarbonize’ our brains, change our mentality, and improve our character,” Obasanjo said. “I wish that subsequent governments had built on the foundation we laid, even if not as quickly as I would have liked. Unfortunately, the progress we made is being undone.”
He emphasized the importance of strong leadership and teamwork in moving the country forward, stating, “If we get it right with leadership and the team in about two and a half years, we will overcome some of the challenges we face. In about 10 years, we could establish a solid foundation, and in 25 years, we would be where we need to be. But instead, we keep taking one step forward, two steps aside, and four steps backward, which is why we are where we are today.”
Obasanjo also questioned the current approach to democracy in Africa, noting that opposition is often treated as an enemy rather than a constructive force. “In Africa, the word for opposition in most languages translates to ‘enemies.’ After reaching a consensus, there is no room for opposition, which is not healthy. We need to work together to move society forward,” he said.
Regarding the proposal for a single six-year term for the presidency, Obasanjo argued that the system is not the main problem. “If you give an elected president a single six-year term, he can still do the same damage he might have done in two four-year terms. The difference is only in the duration,” he explained. “Our real problem is ourselves. Until we address that, nothing will change, regardless of whether we have a single six-year term or two four-year terms. We need to rethink our democracy, but more importantly, we need to change the character of those in government.”
He concluded by stating that the three arms of government, the civil service, and the private sector must change their ways, warning that “otherwise, we all sink in the same boat called Nigeria.”
