Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has enjoined Nigeria’s leaders to practice selflessness and regard their roles as avenues for serving the populace.
This assertion was voiced by Obasanjo on Saturday during his respectful visit to Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House in the heart of Benin City, the capital of Edo State.
The former Nigerian President believes that leadership presents itself as both a privilege and an opportunity.
He underscored the need for those in positions of authority to consider collective sacrifices rather than focusing solely on their personal gains, given the current economic challenges.
Obasanjo lamented the current state of affairs in Nigeria as regrettable but maintained optimism that the situation would eventually improve with time.
“The situation in Nigeria is hard, unfortunately so, but there is no bad situation that can’t be good but the question is when and how? All we should be saying to those who have the opportunity now (because it’s an opportunity for you to run the affairs of your country and look after your people) is: ‘it should not be me but we, not mine but ours, not my tomorrow but our tomorrow, not my generation but all generations including the generation coming. This is what sustainable development is all about. You don’t eat today and not remember the generation coming that they took have to eat, that is all it is.”
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Obasanjo said he was in Benin City to pay dowry as his kid cousin was getting married to a Benin girl, and as courtesy demands, he visited the governor and Chief Security Officer of Edo State.
On the developmental stride of Governor Obaseki in the last seven and half years, Obasanjo said he has learnt a lot and is now better educated about things in the state both recent and in the immediate future.
On the secret of his good health and agility, the 67-year-old ex-president said, “The secret of good health is the grace of God. You must learn to grow old gracefully with the grace of God. I used the acronym “DREAMSC” which means, Diet, Rest, Exercise, Medicals, Social Interaction and Contentment.
He also emphasized the significance of physical activity regardless of age, with healthcare the focal point of his caution. He also highlighted the value of social interaction to avoid feelings of isolation or despair. Additionally, he advised finding satisfaction in one’s circumstances, warning against a cycle of discontentment.