'Nigeria is poorly managed' - Obasanjo

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that the country is not properly managed, noting that, lack of economic security and good leadership could see another sect like Boko Haram arise in the next 15 years.

Obasanjo declared that the country’s population growth, lack of economic security and leadership crisis are the bane of the country’s present predicament.

He asserted that the country has enough resources to be a true giant in Africa and among the comity of nations but for the bad managers of the country’s God given resources, adding that, Nigerians should wake up from their slumber to right the wrong.

Obasanjo stated this on Thursday while addressing people from all walks if life who were in Abeokuta to celebrate his 78th birthday anniversary with him.

The event which was held at the main auditorium of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta attracted academic, politicians, diplomats, captains of industry, students and monarchs.

According to him: “loyalty and relationship is the root of all what we are saying. Most of the things everybody have been saying here is down loyalty to Nigeria which must not be undermined by anything. May God continue to bless Nigeria.

“Let us pray that God gives us good leaders, it is when we have that, that we will get there. I am an incurable optimist. We have no choice, all has to be well.

“We are about 180 million now, contrary to the figure given by Prof. Okebukola. Our brothers and sisters in West Africa are worried, if half a million of Nigerians go to Ghana, we would overwhelm them. Even United Kingdom is worried, they say if one million Nigerians go to Britain every year for ten years, we will have ten million Nigerians there.

“I don’t know why every young Nigerian cannot have basic education, we have the resources but our managers are not managing it well. We must think out of the box and act out of the box.

“You can suppress this as stated by General Martin Luther Agwai, it will later rear its ugly head. Unless basic education, security of lives and property and creating job opportunity for all our teeming youths are provided, we will be having recruit for Boko Haram in the next 15 years,” Obasanjo opined.

He however expressed satisfaction to all those who have worked with him while in office and others like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the APC national chairman, John Odigie Oyegun, who spoke at the occasion.

Obasanjo jokingly uttered,”when you have boys like Bola and John, this is what you get. I have said before that this is not a campaign ground rather a birthday celebration. They claimed to be smarter than their senior brother, may God continue to give you the wisdom to carry on,” he prayed.

Credit: Abiodun Onafuye/PM News