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Selfish leaders holding Nigeria down, says Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria would have been much better and occupied a place of pride in the world but for its problem of self-centred leadership.

Apart from being self-centred, Nigerian leaders, according to Obasanjo, also have a knowledge deficit.

The former President spoke on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital during the 2024 edition of the Leadership Empowerment International Conference.

The conference featured the conferment of Doctor of Leadership and Theology awards on some Nigerians by South-African-based Immanuel Theology Institute International in conjunction with Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative Inc. based in Nigeria.

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“There is no end to leadership and service to your community until you breathe the last. And you can never be too old to be a leader and to give something to the community in which you lead and serve as a leader, to serve your state, your country, the continent and the world.

“And if you asked me in one word, what is the bane of Nigeria today? I will not think about it twice. I will say it is leadership. Leadership that is self-centred, leadership that is a deficit in knowledge and understanding and leadership that does not see service as the centrepiece of what leadership is all about.

“If we can get the leadership right, we will get all other things right. That is what Prof. Olusesi Obateye is doing, which is commendable and very good. We must encourage and inculcate good leadership into every level of our national life,” Obasanjo said.

Obasanjo commended the International Coordinator of Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, and the President of the South Africa-based institute, Prof.Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, for recognising and encouraging some Nigerians with leadership capacities.

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Earlier, Obateye, who spoke on the theme of the conference “Responsible And Responsive Leadership,” lamented the dearth of good leaders, saying it was responsible for Nigeria’s under-development almost 64 years after independence.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Obasanjo said Nigeria’s problems would continue to defy solutions until the country began to feed itself.

He stated this when a delegation from Niger State, comprising commissioners and Special Advisers to Governor Mohammed Bago, paid him a courtesy visit in his Abeokuta, Ogun State home at the weekend.

Governor Bago’s Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, made this known on Sunday in a press statement.

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“The former President expressed his admiration for Bago’s initiative, likening it to his own ‘Operation Feed the Nation’ policy of 1976. He emphasised that with modern equipment now available, the impact of such initiatives can be even greater than before.

“Obasanjo highlighted the critical importance of agricultural self-sufficiency, stating, ‘Until Nigeria begins to feed itself, the challenges facing the country will persist. A nation that cannot feed itself is sitting on a time bomb’.

“He urged other state governors to follow Niger State’s lead in agricultural development to ensure that Nigeria can produce the majority of its own food,” Wakaso stated.

The Special Adviser disclosed that the former President encouraged Niger State to continue investing in agriculture and to explore modern methods to enhance existing practices, expressing his intention to visit Niger State with his team to learn from their progress and exchange ideas to improve and add value to his own agricultural endeavors.

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“Obasanjo also advised Nigerians to consider investing in soilless farming, warning that with the current rate of land use, Nigeria could soon face a shortage of arable land. He stressed that innovative farming techniques are essential to sustaining the nation’s agricultural productivity,” she stated.

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Filling stations set to adjust pump price as petrol crashes by over N300

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Nigerians to enjoy slightly lower prices for petrol following a crash in the landing cost of petroleum products.

From all indications based on the data from major marketers, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that landing cost crashed to ₦935.94 per litre from its last reported price of ₦977.

By implication, filling stations across the country are also expected to reduce the price per litre of petrol for sale to members of the public.

MEMAN in its report published on Tuesday, gave the ex-depot price for Lagos at ₦1,029 per litre for petrol, ₦1,120 per litre for diesel, ₦1,040 per litre for aviation fuel and ₦1,125 per litre for LPG.

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The report put the price for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at between ₦230 per scm and ₦450.

Recent exchange rate stability is said to be responsible for the slight crash recorded in landing costs of petroleum products in Nigeria.

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Bill On 6 Years Single Term, Rotational Presidency/Governorship To Be Introduced – Rep Ugochinyere

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By Gloria Ikibah
Leader of the opposition coalition Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere and 33 other members of the House of Representatives who sponsored the bill seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to provide for a single term of six years for the Offices of the President, State Governors and Local Government Areas Chairmen, have said the bill will be reintroduced again on the floor of the House.
In a statement issued by the lead sponsor and member representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on Thursday in Abuja, Rep. Ugochinyere said all hope is not lost as more consultation will be done on the bill and represented at a later time.
Naijablitznews.com recalled that the bill which also seeks zonal rotation of presidential and governorship seats, as well as holding of the elections in one day was rejected at the plenary on Thursday 21 November, 2024.
Rep. Ugochinyere said, “the decision on the floor of the House today does not put an end to agitation and hope as they will realize this objective.
“The struggle to reform our constitutional democracy to be all inclusive and provide Avenue for justice, equity and fairness has not  been lost. The decision on the floor of the House today not to allow the bill for 6 year single tenure for presidency/governorship and for power to rotate between north and south, all elections to hold in one day, not to scale 2nd reading does not put an end to agitation and hope that we will realize this objective.
“This is a temporary set back which does not affect the campaign for all inclusive democratic process. We are going to review these decision and find possible ways of reintroducing it after following due legislative procedures. All I can tell Nigerians is that we will continue the advocacy and convince our colleagues to see reason with us. If elections are held in one day, it will reduce cost, reduce rigging. If power rotates, it will help de-escalate. political tensions and six year single term will go a long way in helping elective leaders focus on delivering their democratic mandate. All hope is not lost, we will continue the advocacy and we hope that when reintroduced our colleagues will support it.”
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Trump Announces Pam Bondi For Attorney General after Rep Gaetz Withdrawal

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After Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida abandoned his quest for U.S. attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump wasted no time in choosing another candidate for the position.

On Thursday evening, Trump announced his decision on social media.

“I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States,” he posted on Twitter. “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families,” according to him.

“Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl overdose deaths.”

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