OBJ @80: Wisdom after the fact

Speaking at a recent memorial lecture in Lagos, former President Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) said that the ability to take risks and adapt to change are the hallmarks of good leadership. Waxing loquaciously, he went on to say that leaders must develop visions, innovate, provide direction, influence people and solve problems.

According to OBJ, once leaders inspire people to shared visions, the wave effect spreads to the grass roots and facilitates change. Our Former President also said that constant feedback is important because shared visions means inclusiveness and acceptance at all levels. Hindsight is a wonderful teacher! OBJ has written his name indelibly in the history of Nigeria. His modest personal attributes cannot account for his rise from obscurity to fame and prominence. Good fortune played a major role in his life, as indeed it does in the lives of all successful men. He survived a civil war; military coups; Abacha’s machinations; and political intrigues of the Presidency. Irrespective of whatever his critics may feel, OBJ merits praise for his personal achievements. In addition to his political success he recently celebrated his 80th birthday.

As an Elder, he deserves to be spoken to, or about, with respect. He remains in the limelight by speaking bluntly about people and events. Indeed, his continuing relevance has more to do with his personality than any milestone achievements in office. Irrefutably OBJ must take his share of the blame for the fact that the nation whose democracy he midwifed on two separate occasions, has regressed into extreme poverty, and political turmoil. Once again President Muhammadu Buhari has saddled himself with the responsibility of trying to clear up the mess. Not known for exhibiting modesty, OBJ considers himself to be the singular most important living political figure in Nigeria. He became a public person as a frontline commander towards the end of the civil war, and wrote his name in history in 1979 when as Military Head of State he was instrumental in Nigeria’s return to democracy, and in 1999 when he was elected civilian President of Nigeria.

Ironically when he occupied high office, OBJ seldom exhibited the traits which he now identifies as the hallmarks of good leadership. Back in 1999 when the nation approached the millennium he was seen as some sort of “Mandela”. Released from Abacha’s prison it was assumed that he would no longer be interested in material possessions and would work assiduously to uplift disadvantaged and oppressed Nigerians. There were many who thought that like Mandela, OBJ would only serve one term of office then retire, hand over to a younger generation and try to influence affairs from behind the scenes. This turned out to be far from the case as to everyone’s amazement he schemed to serve an unconstitutional third term. OBJ and his admirers remain convinced that he was a success in office, in spite of the fact that there are many whose assessment of his tenure leads them to conclude the opposite. In truth under his leadership Nigeria’s “Third Republic” was midwifed by those who didn’t have a clue what democracy is really all about. They had the opportunity to save Nigerians from themselves but were found wanting. Leaders tend to fall into two categories - those who believe in building and entrenching systems indispensable to advancing society, and those who believe themselves to be indispensable. OBJ alternated between the two. He meant well, but couldn’t exceed his limitations. His foray into partisan politics and the Presidency was one of the high points of his life, but not a high point for the nation. Predictably the praise singers have described him as the “best President Nigeria ever had”, but this is more a reflection of the poor quality of leadership the nation has been repeatedly saddled with, than any earth-shaking long lasting achievements on his part. It’s said that people get the leaders they deserve.

Our past leaders failed the nation because they didn’t use the power entrusted in them to restructure the society for the betterment of all citizens. Most of them were Military rulers or imposed by them, so it’s really not fair to say we deserved such people. Leaders are supposed to be idealistic, visionary, and compassionate. OBJ displayed none of these characteristics when in office. That he has now become sagacious in old age is only to be expected. It’s now, more than ever, that he should be listened to. At his age and with his antecedents he doesn’t need more money or more assets. The most important thing for him at this stage is to ensure that history will look favourably upon him. He has got to an age where in the true African tradition of respecting elders, his shortcomings will be concealed from him. He has definitely earned our respect, but this doesn’t mean that history will forget his contribution to the backwardness of our nation occasioned by incompetent and visionless rule. He remains a living example of Lord Luggard’s description of African leaders as people who love the trappings of power but fail to live up to its responsibilities.