Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday declared that Nigeria is far from achieving its full potential, warning that the country’s journey to greatness remains incomplete due to unfulfilled leadership responsibilities.
Speaking at the public presentation of an autobiography by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, in Abuja, Obasanjo delivered a pointed charge to both former and current leaders, stressing that the task of nation-building cannot be abandoned midstream.
“The Nigeria you and I worked for, we haven’t gotten there yet,” Obasanjo said. “And I believe it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure we reach the Nigeria of our dreams. Our job is not finished until it is finished.”
Obasanjo, who wrote the foreword to Lamido’s book, “Being True to Myself”, emphasized that integrity and commitment to service remain the missing ingredients in Nigeria’s leadership fabric.
In a rare personal reflection, the elder statesman recounted how he appointed Lamido as Foreign Affairs Minister in 1999, describing him as a man of conviction and principle who helped rehabilitate Nigeria’s battered international image after years of military rule.
“Sule was our face to the world. He did a magnificent job,” Obasanjo said, noting that within three years of civilian rule, Nigeria was host to Queen Elizabeth II for CHOGM—a sign of renewed international confidence.
He also praised Lamido’s refusal to sign an undated resignation letter—a mechanism Obasanjo had insisted on from ministers as a measure of accountability.
“Sule told me, ‘You appointed me; I didn’t ask you to. If you find me unworthy, give me five minutes, and I will resign.’ I accepted that. And I never had to ask him to resign. He performed admirably,” he said.
Obasanjo’s remarks come at a time when Nigeria faces mounting security challenges, economic instability, and growing disenchantment with political leadership.
His comments serve as a thinly veiled critique of current governance and a reminder to leaders who, like Lamido, still hold moral capital, to step up in rescuing the nation.
Obasanjo also disclosed that he cut short a foreign mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo to honour Lamido’s invitation, describing the former governor as a dependable ally in Nigeria’s post-military reconstruction.
Lamido’s book, which chronicles his political evolution and time in public service, was unveiled at a well-attended ceremony marked by nostalgic recollections, political undercurrents, and subtle calls for a leadership reset.
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