Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized that the time is ripe for Nigerian youth to take the reins of governance, stating that if they don’t seize the opportunity now, they may not have it again.
Speaking at the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship programme organized by the Bridge Foundation in Abuja on Thursday, Obasanjo encouraged the youth to be “positively disruptive” to effect the change needed to assume leadership roles from the older generation.
Addressing the participants, Obasanjo declared, “You are the leaders of today; if you don’t take it now, you will never get it. You have to be positively disruptive, don’t accept things the way they are. You need to make those who need to be made uncomfortable.”
Expressing the need for the youth not to lose focus on their political ambitions, Obasanjo highlighted the potential for Nigeria to experience a turnaround in two years if governance follows the right course. He also called on Nigerians to appreciate the sacrifices made by the generation that fought for the nation’s independence.
The former president stressed the importance of common security and shared prosperity for Nigeria’s future, urging citizens to learn valuable lessons from the country’s history.
As Nigeria grapples with various challenges, Obasanjo’s call for the youth to play a more active role in governance aligns with ongoing discussions about the need for generational shifts in leadership to address the nation’s complex issues.
