Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on African youths to become “positively disruptive” in their quest to assume leadership positions across the continent.
Obasanjo made the call on Monday while addressing participants at the sixth edition of the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat, organised by the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The retreat, themed “Africa and the Conflicts in Europe and the Middle East,” brought together young leaders from across Nigeria and several African countries to deliberate on leadership, governance, and peacebuilding.
Citing examples of long-term leadership across the continent, Obasanjo urged the youths to see themselves as leaders of today rather than waiting for tomorrow.
He said, “You are leaders of today because if you leave tomorrow in the hands of leaders who are there today, they will destroy it, you won’t have your tomorrow. You can see that happening almost everywhere.
“Cameroon just had an election. My brother, Paul Biya is 92. So, what are you going to do with the youths, or are there no youths in Cameroon?
“Here (referring to Nigeria), we have NotTooYoungToRun and they even made it into law. Those who made it into law are 80 years old and they are still running. When will you have the opportunity to run? Like I said to you yesterday, you have to be positively disruptive and I mean that.
“Look, if three people are sitting and two of them start to press the one in the middle, when it becomes uncomfortable for him, it is either he yields the space or allows them to share. You have to be positively disruptive; otherwise, you will have no role to play.”
The former president also charged the youths to use their population advantage to influence political outcomes and leadership transitions.
“You have the number, but the number will only matter when you use the number to your advantage,” Obasanjo stated.
However, he expressed disappointment that some young people currently in government have “not proven that youths can be absolutely trusted,” urging others to demonstrate integrity and competence when given opportunities.
In his keynote address, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), emphasised that dialogue remains the most effective way to resolve conflicts.
“War is necessary and war will continue as long as people do not know how to solve their problem amicably. What I have found out in my military study is that there is no war that has ended without a peace talk. People come back to the conference table even when they want to share booty, the booty you want to share is at the conference table…
“Why don’t we then find a way of win-win for all of us rather than a winner and a loser,” he said.
Chairperson of the Youth Development Centre, Dr. Bisi Kolapo, also encouraged participants to overcome fear and excuses in their pursuit of success. She urged them to remain optimistic about Nigeria’s future, saying, “Nigeria will be great and rise again.”
