Obasanjo says Nigeria, Africa may not witness debt relief again

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that with the level of mismanagement of the debts of Nigeria and Africa, which were written off in the past, it would be near impossible for any other administration to get the present huge debts of the nation and continent similarly written off.

The elder statesman said that as a result, “the coming generations will have no choice but to pay the current debts being incurred by different countries in the continent.”

It would be recalled that Obasanjo as the Nigeria’s President in 2003 secured a debt relief for Nigeria. His then counterpart from Algeria during the same period also did the same for his country.

Chief Obasanjo, who was speaking during an engagement with the 2023 awardees of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, an initiative of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, warned that the current huge debts of Nigeria and the African continent  are a trap that no individual or nation should fall into as they constitute an albatross on any economy.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Chief Obasanjo also noted that leadership is the number one problem facing Africa, and commended Pastor Oyakhilome for the efforts he is putting into building leaders, adding that the continent needs more people like him to address the leadership crisis facing it.

He highlighted the qualities of good leaders during the question and answer session of the program to include ability to set good examples, be bold and courageous when making decisions, accept mistakes and learn from them as well as have realistic dreams.

In another development, the former President assured that the Nigeria’s socio-economic situation could become better in another four years or thereabouts with prayers and thanksgiving.

He made this disclosure at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ogun State chapter’s 5th Thanksgiving Service to commemorate his conferment as the Asiwaju Onigbagbo, Ogun State.

The Service was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta on Tuesday.

According to a statement by Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President said that it is clear to all that the socio-economic situation of the country is not good, stressing that “mercy has been with us and if that is so, why should we not thank God.

“Think about it. If you breathe the free air of God, you should have cause to thank God. So, things are bad, they may be good in a space of what…Four years? and who knows for Nigeria, things that are bad today, may be good tomorrow.

“That is our prayer and that is why we must never stop thanking God. In all situations, give thanks to God”, Obasanjo told the congregation even as he bust into a joyful song.

The former President also thanked brothers and sisters in the vineyard of God for their continuous and persistent prayers for the country, stressing that the mercy and grace of God have been at work.

The Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by his deputy, Engr, Noimot Salako, former governor, Sen. Gbenga Daniel, the Olowu of Owu Abeokuta, Prof. Saka Matemilola and the Odole Oduaa, the business Mogul who is also the Otun of Asiwaju Onigbagbo Ogun State, Chief Adebutu Kessington and Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi, all eulogized Obasanjo, noting that he is not only a leader in Nigeria, but, also a global phenomenon.