…says Africa must free itself from colonialism to be great

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday said that there is an obligation for all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliations to join hands together with patriotism to build Nigeria to an enviable status in the comity of nations.

The former President stated this in his remarks at his 88th birthday celebration, held at the Marque Hallelujah of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Two books authored by the former President “Lest We Forget: Slavery, Slave Trade, Emancipation and Reparation” and “Nigeria: Past and Future” were unveiled at the event.

The event held at the OOPL conference hall had in attendance Gov Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Ogun Deputy Gov, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, former governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido, former governor of Ogun State, Sen Ibikunle Amosun, former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti-Ahmed among other traditional rulers and Captains of Industry.

The former President reiterated the optimism that the country will attain an enviable status which all the citizens will be proud of during his lifetime irrespective of how bad the situation could be.

He said, “I am an incurable optimistic about Nigeria. Yes, the situation is bad, no doubt, but I believe in my lifetime, we will have the Nigeria that we will all be proud of”.

The former president said African countries cannot continue to operate under the shadow of colonialism, feeling less superior and achieve its full potentials or take its rightful position in world affairs, saying that the continent must release itself from every element of colonialism and slavery to achieve greatness.

Speaking about his new books, Obasanjo said “part of our problems in Africa is what I may call residues of slave trade, slavery and colonialism and until we can break ourselves completely away from it, we may not be able to make progress as we should do”.

“We have to shrug off residues of colonialism and slavery, we have to do this so as not be re-enslaved again after more than two centuries that we suffered the first one”.





https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/at-88-lets-play-our-part-to-make-nigeria-an-enviable-nation-obasanjo-tells-nigerians/