Debt Burden: Next Generation Will Pay For Today’s Irresponsibility — Obasanjo
BY EDMOND ODOK – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says the coming generations of Nigerians nay Africans will ultimately pay for the irresponsible behaviour and financial mismanagement of today’s leaders given the continent’s mounting debt profile.
Specifically, the former President maintained that leadership remains the continent’s number one challenge and “The coming generations will have no choice but to pay the current debt being incurred by different countries in the continent.”
According to him, mismanagement by the previous administrations has forced Nigeria into a debt burden that would ensnare the next generations and make expected developmental strides near impossible to achieve.
During his eight-year tenure as the President from 1999 to 2007, Chief Obasanjo secured debt relief for Nigeria in 2003, a feat also achieved during the same period by his Algerian counterpart, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who served as the seventh president of the North African nation from 1999 till his resignation in 2019
Speaking during an engagement with 2023 awardees of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, an initiative of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the man popularly called ‘Ota farmer’, also hinted that with the disturbing level of mismanaging previous debts written off for some African countries, including Nigeria, it will be almost impossible for any administration to get similar gestures in the continent.
A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, further quoted Chief Obasanjo as maintaining that debts were a trap that no individual or nation should fall into as it constitutes an albatross on any economy.
He lauded Pastor Oyakhilome for channeling resources and efforts into building leaders for the future, noting that countries need more people like him to address the leadership crisis currently facing the continent.
While highlighting the qualities of a leader during the questions and answers session, Obasanjo said; “A leader should be able to set good examples, be bold and courageous when making decisions, accept mistakes and learn from them as well as have a realistic dream.”
Meanwhile, the former Military Head of State is positive that with prayers and thanksgiving to God, Nigeria’s socio-economic situation could change for the better in another four years or thereabouts.
Chief Obasanjo, who spoke at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ogun State 5th Thanksgiving Service of his conferment as the Asiwaju Onigbagbo, Ogun State, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, said it is obvious that the socio-economic situation of the country is not in good stead.
However, he said; “But, mercy has been with us and if that is so, why should we not thank God? Think about it. If you have breathed the free air of God, you should have cause to thank God. So, things are bad, they may be good in a space of four years. And who knows for Nigeria, things that are bad today, may be good tomorrow.”
In thanking brothers and sisters in the vineyard of God for their continuous and persistent prayers for the country, Obasanjo told the congregation; “That is our prayer and that is why we must never stop thanking God. In all situations, give thanks to God”
“It is such a difficult time. And when they are talking of being a fellow of mercy, mine is more than a Fellow of Mercy, mine is a Fellow of Grace and Mercy of God, anyone who is not enjoying this should put up his hand. If that is so, why should we not thank God?”, he further said
