Obasanjo blames Africa’s underdevelopment on poor leadership

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has blamed underdevelopment in African continent on poor leadership, adding that the good aspect of democracy is the power it bestows on the populace to elect and reject their leaders if they do not perform to their expectations.

The former president stated this at the 3rd Covenant University International Conference on African Development Issues (CU-ICADI), held at the University African Leadership Development Centre in Otta, Ogun State.

In his lecture titled “What is Right with Africa”, Obasanjo said cancelling History as a subject in schools is a great mistake that needs to be corrected as early as possible.

“I was shocked when I was told that History is no longer taught in our schools. History is a memory of one’s life, constitution, country or an institution and when we don’t teach it then it means we have lost our memory and what a tragedy this would be”, he said.

The former president noted further that the best way to develop Nigeria is to think of few things the country has done right and continue to develop such, adding that, that is sustainable development.

“We have got a few things right in Africa, such as human existence which started here in Africa, Africa therefore became the first exporter of humanity, Africa also started Agriculture but where Africa started getting it wrong was when Slave Trade started”, he said.

Obasanjo said the history of slave trade is an unpleasant one whose stench and pains can never be erased.

He said most of Nigerian leaders don’t like building on the achievement of their predecessors, adding that this is one of the factors affecting development in Africa.

Obasanjo said if Nigerians have not any good thing that the country has done right in the 56 years of the country’s existence, then, it is not worth being in existence.

He, however, urged Nigerians to have hope in the present administration, saying the person of President Muhammadu Buhari, who served under him during the military regime is a trust worthy person.

Said he: “Buhari is not a very hot person when it comes to economic and foreign affairs but he will do well in matters of military and when it comes to fighting Boko Haram, I believe he will get it right”.

In her keynote address on the theme of the conference titled, “Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Afr4ica: Models, Methods and Policies” Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof.  Joy Ogwu said the greatest flaw we have in Nigeria is discontinuity as every successor wants to discontinue what his processor started doing right.

According to her, growth without human development is no growth, adding that price instability is a major challenge of economic development.

She urged leaders to train experts on economic growth who will negotiate on behalf of the country at the United Nations.

She also advocated gender equality in government, saying no man can run fast on one foot.

“Somehow our leaders have believed that growth can be expertise without women participation, but a woman is a vital natural resource that when included, development process will be maximized and she will become a strategic licenser rather than strategic liability”, she said.

She also advocated financing by increasing government revenue domestically, as well as international support, urging the federal government to return to sub regional economic integration as well as working with private sectors to reduce illicit financial flaws, but added that security should be ensured as there can be no economic development in an atmosphere of insecurity.