Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that Nigeria is in a state of bondage, attributing the country’s persistent challenges to leadership rooted in ethnic loyalties rather than national unity.
Obasanjo made this remark on Friday while receiving a delegation from the Southern leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Addressing his guests, the former president emphasized the need for a leader who prioritizes national interest above tribal affiliations.
“We are in bondage. Let us keep watching the situation, but more importantly, let us pray that God delivers us. I belong to no party. Nigeria is my political party. I only care about the country’s progress,” Obasanjo said.
He argued that Nigeria’s leadership history has been defined by ethnic biases, suggesting that the country’s problems would persist until a leader with a true nationalist vision emerges.
“We’ve had Fulani Nigerian presidents, Hausa Nigerian presidents, Yoruba Nigerian presidents… but we’ve yet to have a true Nigerian president, one for all, not just their tribe. Until we do, our problems will remain. We have few genuine nationalists among politicians today. Most are in it for themselves. Nigeria has disappointed not only Africa but the entire world,” he stated.
Obasanjo, who previously served as a military ruler in the 1970s and later as a democratically elected president from 1999 to 2007, has consistently voiced concerns over worsening poverty, insecurity, and economic hardship in the country. His comments add to growing calls for a more inclusive and visionary leadership in Nigeria.
