Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said Nigeria has failed the African continent specifically, and the world at large.
Obasanjo stated this in Abuja while giving the keynote address at the public presentation of the book titled, “Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa,” written by former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, who also served as Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by his Special Adviser on Monetary Policy, Olawale Edun, unveiled the book.
Obasanjo said, 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.
He, however, added that what Segun (Aganga) has tried to identify, itemise and recommend in his book is the way forward.
Obasanjo identified two of the major issues that were interrelated in terms of factors for all-round development. He alsoastated that peace and security, which we cannot achieve without justice, equity and inclusive society, and telling ourselves the truth, we have not done well on these scores in the recent past — in the last decade and a half.
Obasanjo also emphasize 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.
The former President said the skill acquisition, empowerment and employment of youth would seem to be ignored or not appreciated.
Speaking further, he said we need not to look far for the remote causes of banditry, Boko Haram, kidnapping and other organised crimes.
Adding that, the leaders 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.
