Nigeria’s Governance Crisis Threatens Nation’s Survival, Obasanjo Warns
Nigeria’s Governance Crisis Threatens Nation’s Survival, Obasanjo Warns
By Matthew Eloyi
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s current state of governance, warning that without urgent reforms, the nation risks a total collapse.
Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University on November 15, Obasanjo revisited the late literary icon’s seminal work “The Trouble with Nigeria”, emphasising its relevance in diagnosing the leadership failures still plaguing the country.
In his keynote address, Obasanjo described Achebe as a towering figure in global literature and Nigerian identity. “Achebe belongs to the world,” he said, “but first, he is an African icon who belongs to Nigeria.”
Reflecting on Achebe’s assertion that Nigeria’s core problem lies in a failure of leadership, Obasanjo acknowledged this as a primary cause of the country’s stagnation.
The former president lamented Nigeria’s economic decline, noting the drop in GDP from $510 billion in 2014 to $199 billion today. He contrasted this with his administration’s achievements, which included an average GDP growth of 6.59% and transformative reforms in telecommunications, banking, and pensions.
“The decline is symptomatic of poor governance and a leadership system rooted in bribery, intimidation, and violence,” he said.
Obasanjo cited recent electoral failures, describing the 2023 elections as “a travesty” that undermined democracy and public trust.
The former president proposed comprehensive reforms to address Nigeria’s governance and electoral challenges. These include: Strengthening the legal, administrative, and political frameworks of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Tackling illiteracy and rebuilding a collapsed educational system to foster informed citizen participation in democracy; Enforcing accountability and eliminating impunity among political elites.
He called for the appointment of credible, non-partisan leaders within INEC, the use of technology to ensure electoral transparency, and the eradication of foreign and domestic interference in elections.
Citing Nigeria’s dismal ranking of 150 out of 180 countries in the 2022 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, Obasanjo reiterated Achebe’s assertion that corruption in Nigeria has reached a “fatal stage.”
He warned that without a collective effort to curb the influence of corruption, the country’s developmental prospects remain bleak.
Obasanjo stressed that democracy cannot thrive without an educated electorate. With 24 million Nigerian children out of school, he called for significant investments in education and an emphasis on excellence and accountability.
“A functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy, educated, participatory followership and an educated, morally grounded leadership,” he stated, quoting Achebe.
Closing his speech, Obasanjo urged Nigerians and the international community to support efforts aimed at salvaging the country’s democracy and governance.
“Nigeria is too big to fail,” he declared, emphasising that its success is crucial not only for Africa but for global peace and prosperity.
The forum, held in honour of Chinua Achebe, underscored the enduring legacy of the celebrated author while serving as a platform to address Nigeria’s pressing governance challenges.
