In a meeting with a delegation of House of Representatives members, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a stern warning to the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu.
Obasanjo cautioned the federal government that failure to address the demands of Nigerian youths, who have been staging nationwide protests, could have dire consequences. The former president expressed concerns over the youths’ “frustration, desperation, anger, and unemployment.”
“You are what you are today because you’re a Nigerian; I’m what I am also because I’m a Nigerian. So why should they be Nigerians and be languishing in poverty? They make demands and we’re not listening to them. Many of them are frustrated, desperate, angry and unemployed. What do we expect?,” Obasanjo said.
The meeting, which took place in Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was attended by a delegation led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and included other lawmakers such as Hon. Abdulmalik Danga, Hon. Midala Malami, Hon. Matthew Nwogu, Hon. Peter Aniekwe, and Hon. Kama Nkemkama.
During the discussion, Obasanjo emphasized the need for a change in mentality among those in governance, stressing that Nigeria’s progress depends on its ability to address the youths’ demands.
The meeting also touched on a proposed bill seeking a single six-year term for the presidency, with Obasanjo cautioning that the success of such a system would depend on the “mentality” of those in power.
“If you have a system you can trust; you have an INEC you can trust, then it will not matter the number of years,” Obasanjo said, alluding to the importance of electoral integrity.
This meeting comes at a critical juncture, as the country grapples with nationwide protests driven by the youths’ demands for better governance, economic opportunities, and an end to corruption.