Obasanjo challenges youths to fight for leadership positions
• Osinbajo, ex-president congratulate Kenyatta on re-election
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has challenged Nigerian youths to be hungry for leadership positions, saying unless they wrestle for leadership space, older generation politicians would not quit the stage.
Obasanjo who spoke at the “Youth Governance Dialogue,” organised to mark the 2017 International youth day in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital at the weekend insisted that leadership “is never given but someone has to fight for it.”
The former President who advised the youths to imbibe good moral values, which according to him were qualities, required for a leader position, added that the youths must carve a niche for themselves.
He also charged them, not only to aspire for leadership positions but to be prepared for leadership, saying: “When we talk about youth in leadership position, the point is, how prepared are you? Are you really prepared? ‘’
In Obasanjo’s view, Nigeria was in urgent need of good leaders who must be educationally and spiritually sound.He called on youths to remain united and be patriotic citizens and contribute meaningfully to the development of their fatherland.
His words, “I joined politics from the top. The only position I contested for in Nigeria is the Presidency, but I had track record of achievements, which led to that. Nobody will chose you, you have to chose yourself.”
The former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi who delivered the lead paper, tasked Nigerian youths on unity and peace, urging them to be non-violence in pursuing their demands.
Also, he declared that despite the fact that a lot of things had gone wrong in the country, God has the power to fix Nigeria, if every Nigerian would fear God and invite Him into their lives.
At the 2017 Camp meeting concert of Apostolic Faith Church Choir and Orchestra at the Camp Ground of the Church at Igbesa in Ogun State, Obasanjo who said that solution to the problems in the country lies in the hands of every Nigerian, added that if every Nigerian can be sincere enough and allow God to have His way, He would release His abundant grace to move the country forward and become a cynosure in the eyes of other nations.
Meanwhile, acting President Yemi Osinbajo and former President Olusegun Obasanjo have congratulated President Uhuru Kenyatta on his re-election as President of the Republic of Kenya.
A letter signed by the Acting President after the formal announcement of the election results over the weekend, states “I have the honour on behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to congratulate you on your successful re-election as the President of the Republic of Kenya.”
Osinbajo noted that Kenyatta’s re-election bears testimony to his selfless service to Kenya and to the giant strides he has taken in the transformation of the country in the last few years.
The statement by his Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande yesterday, extended his best wishes to the people of Kenya on the successful conclusion of the August 8 general elections in the country and wished Kenyatta a very successful new term in office.
Obasanjo, in a letter to Kenyatta suggested that for stability of democracy in the East African country, there was need for the investigation of the alleged result manipulation during the election.
In Obasanjo’s view, “Most elections in Africa today have some elements of push and pull, immediately before, during or after the elections, and the latest Kenyan election is not an exception. But such a situation rather than being seen as a challenge should be seen as an opportunity-opportunity to bind the wounds and to unite a country divided by the electoral process.”He explained that his earlier position on the anxiety of the world on the election was premised on past violence, which trailed similar election in the country in 2008.