Nigeria needs more rebels to progress — Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday that Nigeria “needs more rebels” to progress.
Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while unveiling the autobiography of the Babanla Adinni of Egbaland, Chief Tayo Sowunmi, entitled “Footprints Of A Rebel.”
According to him, this remains one of the giant steps towards renovating the country.
The autobiography reviewed by the Founder of Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, Hafsat Abiola Costello, was displayed, as part of agendas to commemorate Sowunmi’s 80th birthday.
Obasanjo said Nigeria needed rebels, who would speak the truth to power “not minding whose ox is gored.”
“Whoever must live a life of honesty and integrity has to be a rebel,” he said, adding: “Looking at the title of the book, I ask myself, why would someone call himself a rebel? But, it is good. The truth is that, if you have to live a life of honesty and integrity, you have to become a rebel. And when you become a rebel, you may even become a persona non grata.
“There is no country that we can call our own except Nigeria. Our country, Nigeria, needs more of rebels. Those who would look at things straight in the face and say ‘this is not right’, ‘this, I will not be part of’. This is not good for Nigeria.”
Obasanjo complimented the octogenarian for living “an exemplary life worthy of emulation by the younger generation.”
Furthermore, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare who delivered a speech during the event entitled “Worthy Nation Building Legacies by the older generation of Nigerians,” called for inter-generational reintegration between older and younger generations, as part of efforts to rebuild Nigeria.
Bakare said it is a disgrace that while younger generations are taking over leadership in other countries, older generation refuses to vacate the stage in Nigeria.
He contended that the nation rebuilding development had suffered because of the marginalisation of the youths and the progressives, who abandoned politics.
However, Bakare called for generational reintegration, starting from the households, embracing of cultural values that foster nation building as well as mentoring and leadership development for the younger generation.
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