Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday said though the situation of the country is bad, things can still be salvaged and Nigeria can still be great.
While describing himself as an incurable optimist, Obasanjo, who celebrated his 88th birthday on Wednesday, expressed the hope that Nigeria will be great in his lifetime.
“For me, I am an incurable optimist about Nigeria. Yes, the situation is bad, no doubt, but I believe that in my lifetime we will have Nigeria that we shall all be proud of.
“We must always bear in mind as Nigerians that there is duty and obligation and if we do it well we will have an enviable Nigeria,” Obasanjo said.
He made the remarks while publicly presenting his new book, “Nigeria: Past and Future” and another one, “Lest We Forget: Slavery, Slave Trade, Emancipation and Reparation”.
The books’ presentation was held at the Centre For Human Security and Dialogue, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, as part of events marking the ex-President’s 88th birthday.
The event had in attendance Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; a former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; a former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara; Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Yusuf Datti-Ahmed, traditional rulers, captains of industry, among others.
“I have no problem with his evangelical mission of who Matthew was as one of the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ but he was a tax collector.
“Now, we have Peter who was a disciple even though he denied Jesus but was forgiven and became the rock. We have John. I don’t fancy the name Matthew…and I don’t know why my father didn’t name me Peter, John, Samuel, Joseph. I would rather keep my name as Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo.”
The former President said that he remains an incurable optimist about Nigeria getting out of the woods as long as the leadership demonstrates strong will to remain selfless and be committed to building a virile nation.
Speaking on his second book, ‘Nigeria Past and Future’, the ex-President said, “It is for us to see where we have all gone wrong without any exception as a group and then see if there is a way out, and if there is a way out, what is the way out and if we know the way out, how do we get there and what should we do?
Credit: Punch