Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a stern warning about the current state of Nigeria, describing the country as “sitting on a keg of gunpowder” that could explode if urgent steps are not taken to address its challenges.
Obasanjo made this call during a meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he hosted six members of the House of Representatives, including former chairman of the House Committee on Downstream Petroleum, Ugo Chinyere. The lawmakers are co-sponsors of a bill proposing a single six-year term and rotational leadership between the North and South.
“Nigeria is a nation where we take two steps forward, one step aside, and four steps backward,” Obasanjo said, expressing deep concern over the country’s trajectory. “We are sitting on a keg of gunpowder that could explode anytime if we fail to take courageous and decisive steps to address the multivarious challenges facing the country.”
The former president lamented that successive governments had failed to build on the foundation laid during his administration. He emphasized that changing the system of government, such as moving to a single term of six years, is less important than fundamentally changing the mentality and character of those in power.
“More than anything else, we must change our ways of doing things in this country,” Obasanjo urged. “We must decarbonize our brains; we must change our mentality and characters.”
He stressed the importance of strong leadership and a committed team, stating that if Nigeria could get both right, the country could overcome its challenges within a few years and establish a solid foundation within a decade.
Obasanjo also criticized the current practice of liberal democracy in Africa, where opposition is often treated as an enemy rather than a vital component of governance. “The word for opposition in all African languages that I have looked into is ‘enemies.’ What do you do with loyal enemies? Nothing like that,” he said. “We need everyone to join hands together and move the society forward.”
He warned that merely changing the system, such as adopting a single term of six years, would not solve Nigeria’s problems if the underlying mentality and approach to governance remained the same. “The very beginning is ourselves,” Obasanjo said. “Yes, we have to rethink our democracy, but the character of people in government must change.”
Obasanjo called for a comprehensive change across all arms of government, including the legislature, executive, judiciary, civil service, and private sector. “Otherwise, we all sink in the same boat called Nigeria,” he cautioned.
He also highlighted the legitimate demands of Nigeria’s youth, warning that their frustrations, stemming from hunger, anger, and unemployment, must be addressed. “They deserve to be given listening ears,” Obasanjo concluded, reiterating his call for immediate action to prevent a potential crisis.
