Obasanjo Speaks at Book Launch, Says Nigeria Needs More Rebels
- Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says one of the ways to rebuild Nigeria is for the country to have more rebels
- Obasanjo said Nigeria needs individuals who can challenge the status quo when things are not going right
- The former president noted that anyone who has lived a life of integrity in the country is naturally a rebel
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Abeokuta - Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria needs more rebels who would speak the truth to power not minding whose ox is gored, adding that it was one of the greatest steps towards rebuilding Nigeria.
Daily Trust newspaper reports that Obasanjo made the comment on Saturday, February 19 in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, while unveiling the autobiography of the Babanla Adinni of Egbaland, Chief Tayo Sowunmi, titled “Footprints Of A Rebel.”
Source: Getty Images
The autobiography, which was reviewed by Hafsat Abiola Costello, founder of Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, was unveiled as part of the 80th birthday celebration of former activist and elder statesman, Sowunmi.
Speaking at the event, Obasanjo noted that for Nigeria to move forward, it required “more rebels” to stand and speak for the truth.
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He added that whoever must live a life of honesty and integrity had to be a rebel.
His words:
“Looking at the title of the book, I ask myself, why would someone call himself a rebel, but it is good. The truth is that if you have to live a life of honesty and integrity, you have to become a rebel.
“There would be some time you would be asked have to do something, but you would say no, this is not right. And when you say that you will become a rebel. You may even become a persona non grata.
“Our country, there is no country that we can call our own except Nigeria. Our country, Nigeria, needs more of rebels. Those who would look at things straight in the face and say ‘this is not right’, ‘this, I will not be part of’, ‘this is not good for Nigeria.”
Nigeria requires fresh, patriotic perspectives, says Olawepo-Hashim
In a related development, a former presidential candidate and chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has stated that Nigeria’s problems require a fresh and patriotic perspective as Nigerians search for who leads the nation in the next presidential election in 2023.
In a press statement sent to Legit.ng on Wednesday, February 2, Olawepo-Hashim explained that issues such as insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and infrastructural decay, cannot be solved by politics as usual, but through fresh and critical thinking.
He maintained that the brand of politics without ideas that is centred on selfishness, propelled by greed, mediocrity, and sycophancy must now give way if Nigeria is to regain her greatness.
2023: Group gives Osinbajo 30 days ultimatum to declare for presidency
Meanwhile, the National Coalition Group has given Vice President Yemi Osinbajo 30 days ultimatum to declare interest to run for the office of the president ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The group in a letter addressed to the vice president on Thursday, January 27 and seen by Legit.ng, said Osinbajo has the right of first refusal in the quest by the APC to remain in office beyond 2023.
Signed by the duo of Fagbemi Opeyemi and Eli Eberechukwu Dibla, national chairman and national secretary respectively of NCG, the group warned against the danger of heading to the presidential election with an experimental candidate in the next general election.
Source: Legit.ng
