Obasanjo Urges Nigerian Leaders “That the Work of Nation-Building Remains Unfinished”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has told Nigerian leaders and citizens that “the job of making Nigeria a better country is not over yet”. He spoke at an event in Abuja where former Jigawa State Governor and ex-Foreign Affairs Minister, Sule Lamido, launched his autobiography, “Being True to Myself.” Obasanjo’s words were a reminder that Nigeria’s journey to greatness is still ongoing and everyone has a role to play.

Nigeria’s Journey Is Not Over

Obasanjo said Nigeria is still a “work in progress.” He explained that the country has not reached its full potential, and there are still many challenges to overcome. He told the audience, “Nigeria that we are working for, we haven’t gotten there. Our job is not finished until we are finished.” He encouraged leaders, both young and old, to keep working hard and not to think their job is done.

He also shared his hope for the country, saying that even though things are hard now, there are better days ahead. In a recent message, he said, “I will say to Nigerians, we are going through hardship, but they should never lose hope. I am an incurable optimist about Nigeria, and we have a great country”. Obasanjo believes that God has good plans for Nigeria and that the country can become a land of plenty, not a place of hardship.

The event was organized to celebrate Sule Lamido’s new book and his many years of serving Nigeria. Many important people from different political parties attended the event. They came to honor Lamido and to listen to stories about Nigeria’s past and future.

Obasanjo talked about how Lamido became Foreign Affairs Minister. He said that Lamido was chosen for the job after someone else turned it down. Obasanjo respected Lamido’s honesty and hard work. He also shared a story about how he asked all his ministers to give him undated resignation letters, but Lamido refused. Lamido told him, “You appointed me, and I did not ask you to appoint me. You think I will fall?” Obasanjo agreed and never needed to ask Lamido to resign.

Obasanjo remembered how, when he became president, Nigeria had a bad reputation in the world. Many countries did not trust Nigeria because of its past problems. Lamido helped change this by working hard as Foreign Affairs Minister. He traveled to other countries and spoke for Nigeria, showing that the country was serious about change and wanted to be respected again.

One big success was when Nigeria hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Abuja. Obasanjo said this was a sign that the world was starting to accept Nigeria again.

Sule Lamido’s Book and Nigeria’s Story

Sule Lamido’s autobiography, “Being True to Myself,” tells the story of his life and Nigeria’s political history. The book covers important moments from the end of the Second Republic, through military rule, and into the return to democracy. Senator Mustapha Khabeeb, who helped organize the event, said the book is full of “drama, suspense, intrigues, backstabbing, and treacherous machinations” that have shaped Nigeria into what it is today.

The book also shows how Lamido grew into a strong and principled leader who gave his best to Nigeria. It talks about the ups and downs of Nigeria’s political journey and how leaders like Lamido tried to help the country move forward.

The event brought together many famous politicians from different backgrounds. Former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Senate Presidents Anyim Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani, ex-National Security Adviser Lt. General Aliyu Gusau, and former governors Rotimi Amaechi, Adamu Muazu, Liyel Imoke, and Babangida Aliyu were all there.

The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, spoke on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. He said the event was not just about a book, but about celebrating a life of courage and service to Nigeria. Idris praised Lamido for helping Nigeria’s democracy, even though Lamido is in the opposition party.

Messages of Hope and Unity

Obasanjo’s speech was not just about the past, but also about the future. He said that leaders must keep teaching and guiding the younger generation. “The young shall grow. And the young is growing. But when you find the young has grown, then your job is not finished,” he said.

Obasanjo also called for unity, hard work, and positive thinking among Nigerians. He said that everyone must work together to build a better Nigeria. “We must do everything to appreciate our achievements and to sustain a culture of inclusion, tolerance, accommodation, and democratic engagements. Our country has been blessed in several ways but we have under-utilised the blessings of God. It is time for us to work harder and work together to reposition our country for the greatness she rightly deserves”.

Obasanjo ended by saying that Nigeria is moving away from its troubled past and building new ways of doing things. He promised that leaders would keep working to improve the lives of Nigerians. He also encouraged everyone to stay hopeful and keep working for a better future.

As the event ended, it was clear that many people still have hope for Nigeria. With hard work, honesty, and unity, Obasanjo believes that Nigeria’s best days are still ahead.

Stay woke. Stay tuned. Stay with AKEWE NEWS.