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At 89, Obasanjo Reflects: “Leadership’s Burden and Blessing Are Often the Same

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3 months ago

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo marked his 89th birthday not with quiet celebration, but with a characteristically frank discourse on the nature of power, using his own dramatic life story—from military commander to imprisoned dissident to democratically elected president—as the central case study.

Delivering a keynote address at an international colloquium in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Obasanjo described leadership as a double-edged sword: a profound burden that is also a deep privilege. The event, titled “Burden and Blessing of Leadership: Reflections from Global Africa to the World,” saw the elder statesman argue that the quality of a nation’s leaders is the primary determinant of its fate.

Obasanjo opened with a stark personal testament, recalling his imprisonment by the late military ruler Sani Abacha. He framed the experience not just as personal suffering, but as evidence of a core principle.

“My imprisonment proves the price of a principled stand,” he told the audience. “Leadership without principle is mere management. True leadership demands that you say no when yes would be more convenient — and that comes at a cost.”

He argued that many who seek power are seduced by its perks, underestimating the immense personal sacrifices required. Drawing on his experience commanding the Third Marine Commando Division during the Nigerian Civil War, he painted a vivid picture of leadership’s isolating core.

“There is the loneliness of the final decision,” Obasanjo explained. “When all the briefings have been received and all arguments made, you alone must decide. That weight does not distribute itself.” He recalled the final days of the war in January 1970, when he chose restraint to protect civilians. “No textbook told me what to do. The decision was mine alone,” he stated, underscoring the immense moral weight that leaders must carry.

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Despite the hardships—including more than three years in detention—Obasanjo insisted he would choose the same path again. He spoke of the profound fulfilment found in service, describing Nigeria’s first peaceful transition from military to civilian rule in 1979, when he handed over power to Shehu Shagari, as one of the most rewarding moments of his career.

“There is the blessing of having been given the opportunity to matter—to serve at the hinge of history,” he reflected. “It was the relief of having been tested and not found wanting. The greatest burden a man can carry is his country on his shoulders. The greatest blessing he can also receive is that country’s gratitude. At 89, I now understand that the burden and the blessing are often the same.”

Shifting his focus from the personal to the continental, Obasanjo offered a sharp diagnosis of Africa’s struggles, arguing that the root cause is not a lack of resources but a failure of governance.

“Africa is richly endowed—with mineral wealth, vast arable land and the world’s youngest population. By every measure, we should be prosperous and stable,” he noted. “Instead, too much of our continent remains trapped in preventable suffering.”

He placed the blame squarely on poor leadership, weak institutions, and systemic corruption, warning of the fragility inherent in personality-driven governance. “When a country’s trajectory depends solely on the character of one person, that country is permanently fragile,” he cautioned.

Looking forward, Obasanjo called for a fundamental rethinking of the continent’s political and economic models. He urged leaders to adapt democratic systems to local realities without sacrificing the core principles of accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness.

He advocated for a massive investment in leadership development and institutional strengthening, emphasizing that sustainable progress requires systems that outlast any single individual. He also identified the global African diaspora as a critical, underutilized asset and urged governments to create conditions that encourage their engagement and investment.

On the economic front, Obasanjo pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a transformative opportunity that, if fully implemented, could reshape the continent’s global standing.

He concluded with a message of hope and a charge to the next generation, framing leadership as the key to unlocking the continent’s vast potential.

“Africa is not a problem to be managed,” Obasanjo declared. “Africa is a promise to be fulfilled — and leadership is how that promise gets kept.”

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Atiku Wins ADC Presidential Primaries in Kano

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12 minutes ago

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May 26, 2026

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By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged victorious in the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) held in Kano State, securing an overwhelming majority of votes cast across the state’s 484 wards.

Announcing the results in Kano on Tuesday, Dr. John Ayuba, a representative of the ADC national headquarters, declared that Atiku polled 155,995 votes to defeat his closest rivals in the keenly contested exercise.

According to the official figures released at the end of the collation process:

Atiku Abubakar — 155,995 votes

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Rotimi Amaechi — 15,914 votes

Mohammed Hayatu-Deen — 9,994 votes

Dr. Ayuba stated that the primary election was conducted peacefully across all the 484 wards in Kano State, with party officials and delegates participating in the democratic process.

Speaking shortly after the announcement, he said the outcome of the Kano exercise would now be transmitted to the ADC national leadership for final collation and ratification.

“The election was conducted in the 484 wards of Kano State. We are going to forward the results to the national headquarters, and from there we will know who becomes the presidential flagbearer of the party,” he said.

 

The outcome further strengthens Atiku’s influence within the party structure in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most politically significant states with a large voting population.

Political observers say the margin of victory recorded by the former vice president reflects his strong grassroots support and established political network in northern Nigeria ahead of the next general election.

Supporters of Atiku who gathered at the venue of the announcement celebrated the victory, describing it as a sign of confidence in his leadership experience and national appeal.

Meanwhile, party officials urged members to remain united after the exercise and work towards strengthening the ADC ahead of the presidential election.

The ADC national headquarters is expected to compile results from other states before making an official declaration on the party’s presidential candidate.

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Pantami Defects to PDP, Secures Guber Ticket for Gombe Governorship Race

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43 minutes ago

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May 26, 2026

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Pantami Def

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the immediate past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has been elected as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Gombe State ahead of the 2027 elections.

Pantami secured the ticket through voice affirmation at the party’s primary election held on Tuesday in Gombe. The event, which took place at a designated venue in the state capital, saw party stakeholders unanimously endorse the former minister as their flagbearer.

The Chairman of the PDP Electoral Panel, Gregory Yenlong, subsequently declared Pantami the sole aspirant. In a video circulating online and posted by Nigerian Affairs Journal, Yenlong announced: “I declare Prof. Isa Aliu Pantami the duly elected and sole gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the state.”

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Speaking to a crowd of supporters after his emergence, Pantami said his decision to join the race was driven by a desire to serve the people of Gombe State. He pledged that if elected in 2027, his administration would be guided by fairness and justice.

“I contested for the seat to offer service to the people of the state,” Pantami said. “If I am elected, I promise that my administration will prioritise equity and good governance.”

Pantami is expected to face the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Jamilu Gwamna, in the 2027 election.

Prior to his emergence as the PDP candidate, Pantami had withdrawn from the APC governorship primary in Gombe State, citing alleged violations of the Electoral Act and irregularities in the party’s electoral process. He had opposed the consensus arrangement that produced Gwamna as the APC candidate.

Following the APC primaries, four PDP governorship aspirants raised concerns over what they described as attempts to bring Pantami into the PDP race. In a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting on Sunday in Gombe, the aspirants—Alhaji Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, Hon. Usman Aliyu Garry, and Mrs. Monica Kaltho—argued that the law does not permit a candidate to defect from one political party to another and contest the same election after votes had already been cast and counted in his favour in another party’s primary.

The aspirants stated that while they welcome all well-meaning individuals into the PDP, they strongly object to any attempt to involve a person who had already participated in another party’s primaries.

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Court Clears Former President Jonathan for 2027 Presidential Race, Imposes N21 Million Fine on Plaintiff

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5 hours ago

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May 26, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest in the 2027 presidential election, dismissing a suit seeking to disqualify him.

The case was brought by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, who asked the court to restrain Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate to any political party for the 2027 poll. He also sought an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting, processing, or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.

Jideobi had asked the court to determine whether, based on Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan remained eligible to seek the office of president again.

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In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu held that Jonathan could lawfully participate in the election. The judge noted that both a Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had previously ruled that Jonathan was eligible to run, and that he was bound by the appellate court’s decision.

Justice Lifu also ruled that Jideobi lacked the legal standing to bring the suit, as he had not suffered any direct loss from Jonathan’s alleged intention to run. The judge described the lawsuit as “an abuse of court process” and dismissed a motion by Jideobi seeking the judge’s recusal, calling the motion frivolous.

The court awarded a N20 million fine against Jideobi in favour of the former president, and an additional N1 million fine in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

The ruling comes after a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki last week offered Jonathan a waiver as the party’s sole presidential candidate for 2027.

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